Three-time champion in 1970, the “king of the Park” is one of the great unanimities of national sport
On the last day, one of the greatest stars of Brazilian football turned 80 years old: (01/01/1946). Born in São Paulo, Riva began his career in but became the “king of Parque São Jorge”. In 1974, the he had suffered twenty years without titles and lost the final of the Campeonato Paulista to his rival . Unhappy with the criticism he received, he went to Fluminense and showed all his talent in Rio de Janeiro.
Star of the Brazilian national team, . He scored, with a free kick, the national team’s first goal in the World Cup, against Czechoslovakia, in Guadalajara: the “atomic kick” paved the way for the victorious campaign. “Look at the hot brick”, said narrator Fernando Solera about the number 11’s powerful shot. Riva also found the back of the net against Peru, in the quarter-finals, and against Uruguay, in the semi-finals.
The 1970 World Cup was the first to be broadcast live on TV via satellite. Before the team’s debut, Rivellino’s family, who lived in São Paulo, was nervous and didn’t want any technical problems to get in the way, according to the Estadão: “Three televisions, one battery operated, all duly checked, are ready at Rua José Guarani, 76 (Santo Amaro) to show an extremely nervous father the image of his son and his 10 companions starting Brazil’s tough fight for their 3rd World Cup. Nicolino Rivellino shows all his nervousness on his tense face, but when speaking on the international phone with his son Roberto, he says he is calm: ‘Roberto, I’m not nervous. I want you to win tomorrow’s game‘” We can imagine the celebration in the house when Rivellino tied the game against Czechoslovakia.
Brazil won its third title on June 21, 1970 and a week later, in Amidst the victory celebrations, Rivellino walked down the aisle at 9pm on Saturday, the 27th. The wedding made a full page in the magazine Score. Maísa Vieira Gazzola became Maísa Vieira Gazzola Rivellino. In total, eighty guests and fifty journalists attended the then Corinthians player’s ceremony. Riva also defended the team in the 1974 World Cups, in Germany, and 1978, in Argentina.
Going through the Jovem Pan archives, I found an interview with Rivellino given at the end of 2003. At the time, the former player had been hired to take over the technical direction of Corinthians. Follow with Wanderley Nogueira:
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
