Background
He was born in Lavras, Minas Gerais.
He was born in Lavras, Minas Gerais.
His nickname means German in the Portuguese language. A tenacious and physical player, Alemão was a strong, consistenty and versatile midfielder, who excelled as a defensive midfielder due to his tactical intelligence and his ability to read the game. The nickname, "Alemão" ("the German"), was attributed to his blond hair and fair complexion, making him similar in appearance to the many German immigrants in Brazil.
Alemão started his career playing for a Minas Gerais" club called Fabril in 1980.
In 1981 he moved to Botafogo, of Rio de Janeiro, where he stayed until 1987. In 1987 and in 1988, he played for Atlético Madrid, of Spain, scoring six goals in 35 games.
Between 1988 and 1992, he played 93 games and scored nine goals for Napoli of Italy, playing alongside star offensive players like Diego Maradona and Careca as a defensive foil. In 1992 he signed with Atalanta of Italy, scoring two goals in 40 games, until he left the club in 1994.
In 1994 he returned to Brazil, playing 77 games and scoring two goals for São Paulo, winning the Copa CONMEBOL in 1994, and where he stayed until 1996, when he moved to Volta Redonda and retired from football.
National team
Alemão started his managerial career in 2007 at Tupynambás, then in 2008, he was hired as manager of América Mineiro, which was, on that season, on second division of the Minas Gerais State League, but was promoted to the first level under his management. Club
National
Individual.
When he was playing for Napoli, he won the Union of European Football Associations Cup in 1989 (scoring a goal in the final), and won the Italian Super Cup and Italian Serie A in 1990. In 1994, playing for São Paulo, he won two international titles, which were the Recopa Sudamericana and the Copa CONMEBOL. With the Brazilian national team, he also won the Copa América in 1989. He won the Bola de Prata award of Placar Magazine in 1985, playing for Botafogo. won the EFE Trophy as best South American player and Louisiana Liga Foreign Player of the Year in 1988, playing for Atlético Madrid.
