Telê Santana (1931-2006) is part of the memory of those who love football well played. The coach led the unforgettable 1982 team that, despite enchanting the world, did not win the World Cup in Spain. Born in Itabirito, Minas Gerais, on July 26, 1931, he died on a day in Tiradentes, like today, exactly twenty years ago.
As a player, Telê marked his time in Fluminense and as a coach he spent time at the main Brazilian clubs, with emphasis on winning the Libertadores and the Club World Cup with São Paulo, in 1992 and 1993. He also had notable spells at Atlético-MG, national champion in 1971, and Palmeiras.
For selection, the 1982 team enchanted the world. Even after the defeat to Italy, at the Sarriá Stadium, the coach was applauded by the press before the press conference he would give about the match. The coach was also at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
A mandatory book for anyone who wants to know more about the life of Telê Santana is “Fio de Esperança” (Gryphus 2000), by journalist André Ribeiro. The breathtaking biography has more than four hundred pages and the name of the work is a reference to the player’s nickname from his time. Even though he was thin, he was quick and scored decisive goals. Therefore, “thread of hope”.
On the back cover of the book, André Ribeiro highlights the coach’s dream in the early 2000s: “Telê hummed the hymn with red eyes, like someone who was about to cry. A tough man, he never cried in public, not even when he lost two World Cups. As he had already stated that he did not usually cry for the good things in life, Telê preferred to remember the part of the hymn that refers to the ‘right to live’. It is this only requirement that makes life. The hope of managing a football team again is what keeps him dodging the health dramas he has been through, even knowing that this hypothesis is practically impossible to happen.”.
Telê was obsessed with the fundamentals of football. He forced his team to practice plays to exhaustion, such as crosses, passes, headers, free kicks and penalties. He used to say: “I’d rather lose a game playing well than win it playing poorly.”.
His absence in national football was never filled.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
