Vicente Ítalo Feola (pronounced [ˈfɛːola]; 20 November 1909 – 6 November 1975) was a Brazilian football manager and coach from São Paulo. He is best known for leading the Brazil national team to its first FIFA World Cup title in 1958.

Vicente Feola
Feola in 1958
Personal information
Full name Vicente Ítalo Feola
Date of birth (1909-11-20)20 November 1909
Place of birth São Paulo, Brazil
Date of death 6 November 1975(1975-11-06) (aged 65)
Place of death São Paulo, Brazil
Position(s) Midfielder[1]
Managerial career
Years Team
1937–1938 São Paulo
1939 São Paulo
1941–1942 São Paulo
1947–1950 São Paulo
1955–1956 São Paulo
1958 São Paulo
1958–1959 Brazil
1961 Boca Juniors
1966 Brazil
Medal record
Representing  Brazil (As manager)
FIFA World Cup
Winner 1958 Sweden

Biography

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Feola was born in São Paulo to Italian parents. He died in 1975 aged 65.[2]

Coaching career

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São Paulo

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As São Paulo FC coach, Feola won the 1948 and 1949 Campeonato Paulista.

Brazil

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1958 World Cup

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As Seleção boss in 1958, Feola introduced a 17-year-old Pelé to the footballing world, winning the FIFA World Cup in Sweden, the first and to date only time a non-European side has won a World Cup on European soil. The team trained in Hindås in Sweden during the tournament (pictured).[2]

Boca Juniors

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Feola was appointed manager of Argentine club Boca Juniors briefly in 1961.

Brazil return

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1966 World Cup

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Feola returned as coach of the Brazil national team for the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. In the first round of the tournament, Brazil lost their second game against Hungary.[3] Pelé, although still recovering, was brought back for the last crucial match against Portugal for which Feola, panicked. He changed the entire defence, including the goalkeeper. In the attack, he maintained Jairzinho and substituted the other two players. In the midfield, he returned to the formation of the first match, even knowing that Pelé was still not fully recovered from his serious injuries.[4][5] Brazil suffered a first round elimination. Under Feola's command, Brazil played 74 times, having won 55 games, tied 13 and lost 6 times.[2]

Honours

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Manager

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São Paulo

Brazil[2]

References

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  1. ^ Profile at Museo do futebol
  2. ^ a b c d "Vicente Feola: A controversial innovator". FIFA.com. 8 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  3. ^ 1966 FIFA World Cup England FIFA Retrieved 8 May 2011
  4. ^ "Brazil in the 1966 World Cup - England". www.v-brazil.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2005.
  5. ^ "Brazil in the 1966 World Cup – England". V-brazil.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2010.

Further reading

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  • Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 2 – Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.
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