Socrates Dead: Brazil Soccer Captain At 1982 World Cup Dies At 57

[ocpagu]

On and off the field, former Brazil star Socrates stood out above the rest. His elegant style and his deep involvement with politics made him a unique figure in Brazilian soccer, setting him apart from the players of his time and even of today.

He was mostly known for captaining Brazil at the 1982 World Cup, regarded by many as the best team ever not to win football's showcase tournament. But he was also widely known for his heavy drinking, which he publicly admitted caused the health problems which eventually helped lead to his death on Sunday.

The Albert Einstein hospital said in a statement that Socrates died of septic shock at 4:30 a.m. Brazilian time (0630 GMT). He was 57.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said Brazil lost "one of its most cherished sons." "On the field, with his talent and sophisticated touches, he was a genius," she said in a statement. "Off the field, ... he was active politically, concerned with his people and his country." Former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also expressed his sadness for the loss. "Socrates' generous contribution to Corinthians, to football and to the Brazilian society will never be forgotten," said Silva, an outspoken fan of Corinthians, the club where Socrates thrived in the 1980s.

Read more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/04/socrates-dead-former-brazil-captain-soccer-player_n_1127870.html


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Sunday was a very sad day in Brazil. Dr. Socrates left us.

Apart from being one of the greatest midfielders of all time, he was a caring medical doctor, a respected intellectual and a great political activist. In the 80s, he co-founded the Corinthians Democracy movement, opposing to then-ruling military government. His and his team mates protests against the regime's treatment of footballers became part of a wider movement for democratisation, which they supported by wearing shirts with the word "Democracy" written on them during Brazil matches.

He said, in 1983: "if I have to die, may I die on a Sunday, after knowing Corinthians won another National Championship."

Corinthians won the National Championship last Sunday, few hours after Socrates passed away.

I'm so sorry he couldn't stay long enough to see the 2014 World Cup being held in Brazil. May you rest in peace, Dr. Socrates.