Place of birth Ilheus, Brazil Years Team Weight 77 kg Position Defender | Name Aldair Santos Role Footballer Playing position Height 1.87 m | |
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Full name Aldair Nascimento dos Santos Date of birth (1965-11-30) November 30, 1965 (age 50) Similar People Bebeto, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Cafu, Rivaldo | ||
Aldair
Aldair Nascimento dos Santos, known simply as Aldair ([awdaˈiʁ]; born 30 November 1965), is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a defender, and who was part of the Brazil national team that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
- Aldair
- Aldair aldair aldair
- Club career
- International career
- Style of play
- Club
- International
- Individual
- References
He spent most of his professional career at Italian club A.S. Roma, where he later also served as captain, winning the Serie A title with the club in 2001. He is one of eleven members to have been inducted into the A.S. Roma Hall of Fame.
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Club career
Aldair started playing at Flamengo where he won the most important title in Brazil, the Campeonato Brasileiro. He moved to Europe in 1989, playing with Benfica, winning the Portuguese Supercup, and reaching the European Cup Final during his only season with the team. He subsequently moved to A.S. Roma in 1990, and remained with the club until 2003, playing nearly 400 Serie A matches with the team, and later serving as captain; during his time in Rome, he won the Coppa Italia in 1991, also reaching the UEFA Cup Final that season, and in 2001, he won a Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana. Roma retired his number 6 jersey number when he left the team in 2003; this retirement was not permanent, however, as the shirt number has also been worn by Kevin Strootman, who joined the squad in 2013.
After Roma, Aldair then briefly joined Genoa CFC. On July 2005, Aldair announced plans of playing for Rio Branco Atlético Clube, and played two games for the club in the estadual championship, helping his team to win the title.
Former teammate and good friend Massimo Agostini convinced him to play in San Marino for S.S. Murata in order to boost their Champions League campaign. After S.S. Murata's dreadful 7–1 aggregate defeat to Cypriots APOEL in the first round of qualifying for the 2006–07 UEFA Cup, Agostini decided to call upon Aldair to join him on the Italian Peninsula. Aldair took part in the Champions League qualifying stage in July 2007.
International career
Aldair was part of the Brazilian squad that took part at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In 1994, he reached the pinnacle of his career when he played for the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Brazil in the 1998 World Cup, as Brazil went on to reach the final once again, only to be defeated by France. He took part in three Copa América's with Brazil, winning the title in 1989 and 1997, whilst earning a runners-up medal in 1995. Aldair won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and was part of the Brazilian team that won the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. In addition to these tournaments, Aldair also took part in two friendly tournaments with Brazil, winning the 1995 Umbro Cup, and finishing in second place in the 1997 Tournoi de France. In total, he appeared 81 times for Brazil between 1989 and 2000, scoring three goals.
Style of play
An elegant and tactically versatile defender, Aldair was capable of playing both as a sweeper, and as a centre back, due to his vision, technical ability, and his passing range. His confidence on the ball and, in particular, his adeptness at long balls enabled him advance into midfield and create chances for team-mates. Although he was not particularly quick, he was a strong defender, who excelled in the air, and at anticipating opponents with well-timed challenges, due to his ability to read the game. In addition to his defensive and technical skills, Aldair was also known for his leadership and for being a correct player throughout his career.