José Macia, known as Pepe, turns 91 this February 25th and continues to be active and excited about football. He is one of the greatest idols in the history of Santos. Called the “Vila cannon”, he is second in the club’s top scorer with 405 goals, behind only Pelé. He was two-time champion of the Libertadores and the Club World Cup (1962-1963). Wearing the national team’s shirt, the left winger was in the victorious campaigns of 1958 and 1962, but was Zagallo’s reserve in both World Cups.
Before Brazil’s debut at the World Cup in Sweden, the first won by Brazil, the team played one last friendly against Internazionale, in Milan. Coach Vicente Feola named the team like this: Castilho; Djalma Santos, Bellini, Orlando and Nilton Santos (Oreco); Dino Sani and Didi; Joel, Mazzola, Dida (Vavá) and Pepe (Zagallo). The goals were scored by Dino Sani, Dida, Mazzola and Zagallo. A negative note of the match was precisely Pepe’s injury, after a play with the Italian Bicicli.
The Brazilian winger had a swollen foot and had to wear flip-flops for a few days. Pepe remained in Zagallo’s reserve and did not enter the field during the World Cup. In 1962, in Chile, the national team, now under the command of Aymoré Moreira, had the same base as four years earlier. Pepe, again, remained in reserve.
The pointer only defended the colors of Santos throughout his playing career, from 1954 to 1969. After hanging up his boots, Pepe was a prestigious coach and won titles, such as the 1986 Brazilian Championship with the colors of São Paulo.
Going through the Jovem Pan archives, I found a 2004 interview given to Flávio Prado. Pepe recalled the historic Paulistão of 1959, when Palmeiras managed to overcome Santos in the final matches.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
