Rildo (footballer, born 1942)

Rildo da Costa Menezes (23 January 1942 – 16 May 2021), also known as Rildo, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a defender.

Rildo
Rildo in 2010
Personal information
Full name Rildo da Costa Menezes
Date of birth (1942-01-23)23 January 1942
Place of birth Recife, Brazil
Date of death 16 May 2021(2021-05-16) (aged 79)
Place of death Los Angeles, CA, USA
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1959 Ibis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960 Sport
1961–1966 Botafogo
1967–1972 Santos
1973–1976 CEUB
1977 New York Cosmos 12 (0)
1978 Southern California Lazers 24 (0)
1978–1979 Cleveland Force (indoor) 16 (2)
1979 California Sunshine
1980 Cleveland Cobras
International career
1963–1969 Brazil 38 (1)
Managerial career
1990 California Emperors
1993 Los Angeles Salsa
1995 San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Rildo was the last of Santos Golden Era players, which included Pelé, Pepe, Coutinho, Clodoaldo and many others. His career began in 1959 when he signed a youth contract with Botafogo. In 1961 he began his senior career with Botafogo, two times winner in 1961 and 1962, and Brazilian Championship in 1963. In 1967, he transferred to Santos FC. Three time winner of Săo Paulo State Championship he captained the team that won (1967, 1968, 1969). From 1963 to 1970, he played for the Brazil national team. In 1977, he joined Pelé with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. In 1978, he played for the Southern California Lazers of the American Soccer League[1][2] and was selected to the ASL all-star team that season.[3] In 1979, he played for the California Sunshine. On 16 April 1980, he signed with the Cleveland Cobras of the American Soccer League.[4]

International career

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Rildo earned 49 caps, scoring one goal, with the Brazil national team from 1963 to 1969. He was a member of the Brazilian team at the 1966 FIFA World Cup where he scored his lone national team goal in a 3–1 loss to Portugal.

Coaching career

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In 1990, Rildo coached the California Emperors. In 1993, he coached the Los Angeles Salsa of the American Professional Soccer League. In October 1993, he resigned after the team lost the championship game.[5] In 1995, he coached the San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles of the USISL.[6]

Rildo was an assistant coach with the Marlborough High School soccer team where he oversaw the junior varsity. He assisted professional British Head Coach Gareth Pashley to their most successful season in the High School's history.[7]

Death

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Rildo died in Los Angeles on 16 May 2021, aged 79.[8]

Honours

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Botafogo FR
Santos FC
New York Cosmos

References

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  1. ^ "1978 Southern California Lazers". Fun While It Lasted. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. ^ "1978 Southern California Lazers Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Four Lazers all-league". The Gadsden Times. 3 September 1978. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  4. ^ April 16, 1980 Transactions
  5. ^ Salsa Coach Resigns Under Pressure
  6. ^ San Fernando Valley ruins Salsa's Mission Viejo debut The Orange County Register – Monday, 8 May 1995
  7. ^ Rildo: From World Cups to Kennedy's Small World
  8. ^ "Morre Rildo, ex-lateral de Botafogo e Santos nos anos 1960, em Los Angeles". mg.superesportes.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 17 May 2021.
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