Branco (footballer)

Branco
	Brescia Calcio 1986-87
Personal information
Full name	Cláudio Ibrahim Vaz Leal
Date of birth	4 April 1964 (age 60)
Place of birth	Bagé, Brazil
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Left back
Senior career*
Years	Team
1980–1982	Internacional
1983–1986	Fluminense
1986–1988	→ Brescia (loan)
1988–1991	Porto
1991–1993	Genoa
1993	Grêmio
1994	Fluminense
1994	Corinthians
1995	Flamengo
1995	Internacional
1996	Middlesbrough
1997	Mogi Mirim
1997	NY/NJ MetroStars
1998	Fluminense
Total
International career
1985–1995	Brazil
Managerial career
2012	Figueirense
2013	Sobradinho
2013	Guarani
show Medal record
Men's Football
Representing Brazil
FIFA World Cup
Copa América
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cláudio Ibrahim Vaz Leal (born 4 April 1964), better known as Branco, is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a left back.^[1] A member of the triumphant Brazilian team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Branco was a renowned free kick specialist (as was his international successor, Roberto Carlos) known for his accuracy of placing the ball in the direction that he wanted the free kick to go.^[2]

Club career

At club level, Branco played for Internacional (1980–81), Fluminense (1981–86, 1994 and 1998), Brescia (1986–88), FC Porto (1988–91), Genoa (1991–93), Grêmio (1992–94), Flamengo (1995), Corinthians (1995), Middlesbrough (1996), and MetroStars (1997). Branco's late career in England and the United States was marred by weight problems.^{[citation needed]}

During his spell at Middlesbrough he scored twice, both goals coming against Hereford in the League Cup second round, once at home in the first leg and once away in the second.^[3] However, he played just nine times in the Premier League and by Christmas 1996 he had left the club on a free transfer after less than a year.^{[citation needed]}

International career

Branco appeared 72 times for Brazil, between April 1985 and February 1995, and scored nine goals. He took part in three World Cups for the Seleção (1986, 1990 and 1994).^{[citation needed]} After sitting out the first four games at the 1994 World Cup, he replaced Leonardo on the left after Leonardo was banned for a deliberate elbow on Tab Ramos in the second-round game against the USA. Branco scored with a memorable late free kick from 35 metres to eliminate the Netherlands in the quarter-finals,^[4] and took one of Brazil's penalties in the shootout when they beat Italy in the final. He played in a total of twelve matches in three World Cup tournaments.^{[citation needed]}

Manager

As of 2006, Branco was the general manager overseeing Brazil national youth teams.^{[citation needed]}

From 2007 to December 2009, he worked as general manager of Fluminense youth teams.^{[citation needed]}

Honours

Club

Internacional^[5]

Campeonato Gaúcho: 1981

Fluminense^[5]

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1984
Campeonato Carioca: 1983, 1984, 1985

Porto^[5]

Grêmio^[5]

Campeonato Gaúcho: 1993

International

Brazil^[5]

References

^ da Cunha, Pedro Jorge. "Branco: "O Artur Jorge apanhou-me a imitá-lo e foi o fim do mundo"" [Branco: "Artur Jorge caught me imitating him and it was the end of the world"]. Mais Futebol (in Portuguese). Media Capital. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
^ Branco Statistics Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine FIFA; Retrieved 22 January 2010
^ Moore, Glenn (5 April 1997). "Leicester rely on heart to counter international art". The Independent. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
^ Branco bullet wins Cotton Bowl thriller FIFA; Retrieved 26 May 2021
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Profile – Branco Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Sambafoot

External links

Branco at National-Football-Teams.com

[1] Cunha, Pedro Jorge. "Branco: "O Artur Jorge apanhou-me a imitá-lo e foi o fim do mundo"" [Branco: "Artur Jorge caught me imitating him and it was the end of the world"]. Mais Futebol (in Portuguese). Media Capital. Retrieved 9 December 2020.

[2] Branco Statistics Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine FIFA; Retrieved 22 January 2010

[3] Moore, Glenn (5 April 1997). "Leicester rely on heart to counter international art". The Independent. Retrieved 11 March 2010.

[4] Branco bullet wins Cotton Bowl thriller FIFA; Retrieved 26 May 2021

[Profile_–_Branco-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Profile – Branco Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Sambafoot

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Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Portugal