Brazil 1982 World Cup captain Dr Socrates, the 'Golden Heel' renowned as one of the great playmakers of his generation, was brought down by intestinal infection at 57.

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Former Brazil captain Socrates died on Sunday aged 57 from an intestinal infection, a spokesperson for the Albert Einstein Hospital announced.

Socrates - who in 1982 captained what is widely regarded as the best Brazil side never to have won the World Cup - was taken to the hospital late on Friday after suffering food poisoning.

The hospital said he had gone into septic shock and placed him on a ventilator and a dialysis machine but he was officially announced dead at 6:30 am.

Former Brazilian soccer star Socrates Oliveira (R) poses with former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with their team before a friendly match in the official residence of Granja do Torto in Brasilia in this March 12, 2005 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

He had already been hospitalized twice in August and September this year with bleeding in his digestive tract, and recognized after these incidents he had problems with alcohol, especially during his playing days.

In a recent television interview, Socrates said he had considered alcohol his "companion", adding its regular use did not affect his performance on the soccer field.

"Alcohol did not affect my career, in part because I never had the physical build to play this game," he said.

"Soccer became my profession only when I was already 24," he said. "I was too thin and, when I was young, I did not have the opportunity to prepare myself physically for the sport."

Socrates also played in the 1986 World Cup but was not fully fit and is mainly remembered for missing a penalty in the quarterfinal defeat by France.

At club level he played for Brazilian giant Corinthians (1978-84) and had an unhappy sojourn in Italy with Fiorentina (1984-85).

While at Corinthians he was one of the founders of a movement known as Corinthian Democracy, which formed in the 1980s.

Under its principles, all decisions made by soccer clubs, including the contracting of new players and training schedules, had to be approved by a vote of all members.

Dr Socrates commemorated

People display a flag with an image of Brazil's 1982 World Cup captain Socrates before his funeral ceremony, in front of the cemetery in Ribeirao Preto Dec 4, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

 

Chinese fans pay tribute to soccer great (from Sina Weibo)

"I was shocked by the death of Socrates. He was merely 57 years old. His way of taking a penalty kick, which never needed a run-up, was always great indulgent and enjoyment for fans. My deepest condolences for the soccer great!"

Han Qiaosheng, Veteran CCTV sports commentator

"I always wanted the No 8 jersey when playing soccer in middle school, because it is Socrates' number. He was God in my eyes at that time with whiskers and slim face, tall and handsome. I didn't think a PhD could play such fabulous and smart soccer until I knew him. He left us today. All the way best!"

Su Dong, Famous sports commentator

"Socrates was probably one of those soccer greats who had played the most games with Chinese players. He had almost played with every Chinese team, including most of the Chinese clubs and then Chinese national team and national youth team, during his China Tour in the 1980s."

Lu Yang, Reporter for Sina sports

 

"Socrates was one of my soccer enlightening stars. Thirty years ago, the midfield trio formed by Socrates, Falcao, Zico was the greatest, ever and never. Even Barca's trio cannot be paralleled with them."

Meng Xiaoqi, Deputy Editor-in-chief of Basketball

 

Factbox on Socrates 

Early playing days

* Born Feb 19, 1954 in Belem, a city on the banks of the Amazon river. Full name Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira. During his childhood, his family moved to Ribeirao Preto in the state of Sao Paulo.

* His brother Rai, born in 1965, played in Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team, won the South American Libertadores Cup and world club championship with Sao Paulo and also played for Paris St Germain.

* Known alternately as the Golden Heel, Doctor Socrates and the Big Thin One, he was a smoker, drinker and a man with strong views on both football and politics.

* He was raised at Botafogo-Ribeirao Preto and quickly became their top player, even though he trained less than the rest of the squad as he was also studying medicine at the local university.

* He left Botafogo in 1978 to join Corinthians.

Playing style

* Socrates stood out with his lanky figure allied to a unqiue, apparently nonchalant playing style. He was notable for the use of the backheel and the casual manner in which he took penalties. He scored outstanding goals with both feet and could conjure up the most astute of passes.

Corinthians and democracy

* At club level, Socrates will always be associated with his six years at Corinthians, the Sao Paulo-based club which enjoys massive support rivalled only by Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro.

* Socrates was one of the leading figures in the movement known as Democracia Corinthiana, in which everything was decided by a vote involving the club directors, technical staff and players - it worked as the team reached the semi-finals of the Brazilian championship in 1982 and won the Paulista championship in 1982 and 1983. The movement died out in 1984.

* The team would also send messages to the country's then military government, taking the field carrying banners with the words 'Direct elections now' and 'I want to vote for president.' A poster of the team carried the words 'Democracy: Winning the championship is a minor detail.'

Brazil and two world cups

* Socrates won 60 caps and scored 21 goals in his seven-year Brazil career. He made his debut in a 6-0 friendly international win against Paraguay in 1979

* Socrates was captain in 1982 and his team is widely regarded as the best side not to have won the World Cup. Playing alongside other great players such as Zico, Junior, Falcao and Eder, Brazil produced memorable performances and goals until a catalogue of defensive lapses led to a shock 3-2 defeat to Italy in a decisive second phase group game.

* He also played in the 1986 World Cup team. Less spectacular then the 1982 side, they were still favourites until they lost to France in the quarter-finals on penalties - when Socrates had one of his lazy efforts saved by Joel Bats.

* Socrates had already converted one of his unique penalties in the 4-0 win over Poland in the second round.

Final playing days

* Socrates had a short and unhappy spell in Italy with Fiorentina before returning to play out his career in Brazil.

* He then spent a year with Flamengo, quit the game and came out of retirement for a brief stint with Santos.

Post-career

* Socrates was married with six children.

* Before the illness which led to his death, he was giving seminars about leadership and human relations. He also had a consultancy for social and cultural projects and wrote columns for newspapers and magazines. He was writing a fictional book about the 2014 World Cup. He told the Guardian newspaper in an interview that the characters would be foreigners visiting Brazil for the tournament and their experiences.

* In 2004, at the age of 50, he accepted an offer to spend one-month with English non-league team Garforth Town. He made his only appearance as a late substitute against Tadcaster Town.