Zizinho (footballer, born 1962)

Geraldo Francisco dos Santos (11 June 1962 – 29 July 2021), nicknamed Zizinho, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a midfielder.[1]

Zizinho
Personal information
Full name Geraldo Francisco dos Santos
Date of birth (1962-06-11)11 June 1962
Place of birth São Paulo, Brazil
Date of death 29 July 2021(2021-07-29) (aged 59)
Place of death Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Position(s) Midfielder[1]
Youth career
–1977 São Paulo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1980 São Paulo
1980–1982 América
1982–1983 León
1983–1984 América
1984–1985 Necaxa
1986–1987 FAS
1987–1989 Monterrey
1990–1991 León
1993–1997 Monterrey La Raza (indoor)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Born in São Paulo,[2] started his career with São Paulo FC, being the youngest player and goal scorer of the club in 1978, aged only 15 years and 311 days.[3][4]

Began his professional career in Mexico in 1980 with América. He also played for León and Necaxa, making a total of 135 appearances, scoring 27 goals, in the Primera División de México.[5]

Dos Santos played in MISL for Los Angeles Lazers for the 1986 and 1987 seasons.[6][7]

He later played for Monterrey La Raza, an indoor team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, between 1993 and 1997.

Personal life

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Dos Santos had three sons, who were also all footballers - Éder (born 1984), Giovani (born 1989) and Jonathan (born 1990).[1][8]

He died from COVID-19 on 29 July 2021, at the age of 59.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "La familia Dos Santos, ante un partido que une raíces" [The Dos Santos family, before a match which unites roots] (in Spanish). Marca. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Player profile" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  3. ^ "Os principais recordes dos jogadores são-paulinos desde 1930". São Paulo FC (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Todos os Jogadores" (PDF). SPFCpédia (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Player profile" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  6. ^ "MISL career stats". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  7. ^ https://www.thefinalball.com/jogador.php?id=206829 Zizinho
  8. ^ Arielle Castillo (15 July 2015). "Giovani Dos Santos 101: Everything you need to know about the LA Galaxy's new Designated Player". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  9. ^ "'It's what his dad would've wanted' - Martino explains why Mexico star Dos Santos played hours after death of his father | Goal.com". www.goal.com.