Full name Antonio Fernandes Role Football player Playing position Name Antonio Fernandes | Place of death Santos, Sao Paulo Place of birth Santos, Sao Paulo Position Midfielder | |
Date of birth (1921-08-13)August 13, 1921 Date of death December 16, 1973(1973-12-16) (aged 52) Died December 16, 1973, Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil | ||
Antônio Fernandes, also known as Antoninho ([ɐ̃toˈnĩɲu]) (13 August 1921 – 16 December 1973), was a Brazilian professional football player and manager. He was nicknamed O arquiteto da bola ("architect of the ball") after São Paulo's victorious campaign in the Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais in 1952. At Santos, he would play 400 games from 1941 to 1954, scoring 145 goals. In 1948 and 1950, his team finished as high as second in São Paulo. After leaving Santos, he would play two more seasons at Jabaquara before ending his playing career.
He then became an assistant coach at Santos under Lula, and later head coach for Atlético Mineiro. He returned to Santos once again to take over for Lula in 1966, leading Os Santásticos to their second Campeonato Paulista title. In 1968, they won the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, predecessor to the Brasileirão, and the Recopa Sudamericana, along with many other domestic and international tournaments. Upon leaving Santos in 1971, he was replaced by fellow Peixe great Mauro Ramos.