Botafogo's Heroes

Instead of entrusting the task of selecting The Greatest 100 Living Players to the World's All-Time Number One, FIFA and the various companies associated with the recent Century of Players may have been better advised to start with Botafogo and fill any gaps with A. N. Others.

Admittedly stars of black-and white vintage like Heleno de Freitas are no longer with us, nor are Didi and Garrincha, two of Brazilian football's most gifted exponents, but Botafogo in its centenary deserved to have more of the 100 in the recently announced list. To be added on to the list later was to add insult to injury to omission.

Nilton Santos, Gérson and Jairzinho would have made most people's lists – Nilton merits that recognitiondespite the fact that many of his fans have never seen him play. To respect greatness in this way is not a sign of innocence – it is rather an article of faith, the one that people share when they talk about the truly great players – the reverential way in which the footballing cognoscenti in England talk about Duncan Edwards or Tom Finney. If Nilton made the all-time World XI in 1998 how could he be usurped six years later? And by a pal from the 58 team? His initial exclusion itself raises questions about whether it was Pelé's list or whether this was, as many suppose, a political or commercial concoction that came out half-baked and garnished with just a passing acquaintance with the Beautiful Game.

And for those who say “I won't select him because I never saw him play” means disqualifying Pelé himself from most polls since he has not been playing professionally for the best part of thirty years. It also acts as a mirror on many of today's football supporters – if the player is not immediate to them he is automatically devalued. The idea of researching, as with reading more generally, seems anathema to many younger fans. But without at least a curiosity about football history how can people make assessments like this? Even more startling – how can someone who did so much to popularise the game and even to become a Brazilian icon not pay more attention to the choices made in his name?

The starting point for any re-assessment is Botafogo's record of providing more players than any other club for the Brazilian national team. No wonder that legend is proudly daubed on the terrace wall at Caio Martins – one of the 12 Great teams of the 20th Century.

Botafogo supplied the following players to Brazil's World Cup squads:

1930 – Benedicto, Carvalho Leite, Nilo, Pamplona.
1934 – Pedrosa, Germano, Martim Silveira, Canalli, Átila, Carvalho Leite, Waldir, Ariel, Octacilio.
1938 – Martim Silveira, Nariz, Patesko, Perácio, Zezé Procópio.
1950 – Nilton Santos
1954 – Nilton Santos
1958 – Nilton Santos, Garrincha, Didi.
1962 – Nilton Santos, Garrincha, Didi, Amarildo, Zagallo
1966 – Jairzinho, Gérson, Rildo, Manga.
1970 – Jairzinho, Paulo César Lima, Roberto Miranda.
1974 – Jairzinho, Marinho Chagas, Dirceu,.
1978 – Rodrigues Neto, Gil.
1982 – Paulo Sérgio
1986 – Alemão, Josimar.
1990 – Mauro Galvão
1994 – None
1998 – Bebeto, Gonçalves.
2002 - None.

Out of that list there is a special affection felt for the bicampeões (players who were twice world champions, in 1958 and 1962) Didi, Garrincha and Nilton Santos.

Botafogo FR is synonymous with the rise to greatness of Brazilian football. Among the superstition, struggle and barren years for the club, to stop and contemplate these names and what they represent in world football is to make it all worthwhile. Supporting Botafogo means valuing these names and that history.

Britafogo's site hopes to enhance this appreciation of the club's rich heritage as the site develops. For many an awareness of this history was the reason they adopted the black-and-white colours in the first place.

BFR é Glorioso. Valeu Fogão!

Gallery of the great teams of the past