Honorary President - Nilton Santos

Britafogo is delighted to confirm that Nilton Santos has agreed to become its honorary president – a special pleasure especially as we enter the centenary of Botafogo FR. Nilton as Botafogo’s greatest living idol is the embodiment of everything that draws so many people to Botafogo’s Solitary Star. He played 729 times for the alvinegros (black-and-whites).

Born in Rio’s Ilha de Governador, Nilton was almost 22 when he arrived at Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas in 1948 to start a professional career which lasted 16 years at the Glorioso. During that time he featured in four Brazilian World Cup squads, claiming two winners’ medals in 1958 and 1962. He appeared in 75 games for the Brazilian national team and was a crucial part of both World Cup successes.

Nilton was part of the stellar side that helped Botafogo develop a record as the most prolific provisioner of the national team. Among his contemporaries were Didi, Garrincha and Zagallo, all of whom shone for both club and country.

Credited with being one of the first full-backs to play in a more attacking way, Nilton’s contribution to world football was recognised in 1998 when he was named as a member of the World Team of the Century. Few journalists or cognoscenti then, or since, have contested this choice.

Nilton Santos remains a symbol of football from a different age: a phenomenally talented defender who was good enough to win a World Cup at 37 years-old; a player who only appeared for one club during his career and to which he has remained devoted after he retired in 1964, and a man whose humility and love of football was reflected in his willingness to sign blank contracts simply in order to play the game for his beloved club. Hence the title of Nilton’s autobiography "Minha Bola Minha Vida" – My Ball My Life.

On and off the field Nilton has been a true "craque" (star) and a gentleman, an exponent of futebol-arte and everything which draws us to Brazilian football.