João Ferreira, usually known as Bigode ("moustache" in Portuguese) (4 April 1922 – 31 July 2003),[1] was a Brazilian footballer who played left back and also played in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.[2]

Bigode
Bigode in 1950
Personal information
Full name João Ferreira
Date of birth (1922-04-04)4 April 1922
Place of birth Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Date of death 31 July 2003(2003-07-31) (aged 81)
Place of death Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Position(s) Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1940–1943 Atlético Mineiro
1943–1949 Fluminense
1949–1952 Flamengo
1952–1956 Fluminense
International career
1949–1950 Brazil 10 (0)
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Brazil
FIFA World Cup
Runner-up 1950 Brazil
South American Championship
Winner 1949 Brazil
Panamerican Championship
Winner 1952 Chile
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career edit

Bigode started his career playing for Atlético Mineiro, of his home city Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state.[2] He won the Campeonato Mineiro twice, in 1941 and in 1942.[2] He then moved to Fluminense of Rio de Janeiro in 1943, where he won the Campeonato Carioca in 1946.[2] After leaving Fluminense in 1949, Bigode joined his former club's rivals Flamengo in 1950, where he stayed until 1952, when he returned to Fluminense, and retired in 1956.[2]

International career edit

Bigode played eleven matches for the Brazil national team between 1949 and 1953.[2] In 1949, he won the South American Championship.[2] He was also part of the Brazilian team that finished as the 1950 FIFA World Cup's runners-up, after being defeated 2–1 by Uruguay at Estádio do Maracanã, in what is known as the Maracanazo.[2] In this game Bigode was in poor form, as Alcides Ghiggia dribbled him in both Uruguayan goals. However, it was goalkeeper Moacyr Barbosa who was blamed for the defeat.

Death edit

Bigode died in Belo Horizonte on 31 July 2003 after suffering from respiratory problems.[1]

Honours edit

Bigode won the following honors during his playing career:

Club edit

Atlético Mineiro
Fluminense

International edit

Brazil

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Retrospectiva 2003" (in Portuguese). IstoÉ. December 24, 2003. Archived from the original on November 30, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro Lance Volume 1. Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A. 2001. p. 36. ISBN 85-88651-01-7.

External links edit