Oscar Cox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oscar Alfredo Cox was responsible for the introduction of football in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1901. A sport he learned a few years earlier while in Switzerland studying "Humanities" in the "La Villa" college of Lausanne.
Born January 20, 1880 in Rio, Oscar was the son of British diplomat George Emmanuel Cox (born in Guayaquil, Ecuador), responsible for the foundation of two cricket clubs in Rio (Paysandu Cricket Club in 1872 and Rio Cricket & Athletic Association in 1897) and of Minervina Dutra Cox.
After returning from Switzerland in 1897 he tried unsuccessfully to introduce football in Rio for some years and had to wait until September 22, 1901 when finally he was able to organize the first football match in the history of the Rio de Janeiro state.
The historic match between Brazilian born players and English born players ended one all and was played at the Rio Cricket field in Niterói, a club of which his father was president and he and his brothers (Sidney, Amanda, George, Noemia, Anita, Edwin and Harold) were all members.
He is best known though for founding Fluminense Football Club on July 21, 1902, one of the biggest clubs in Brazil, and one where World Cup stars like Didi, Carlos Alberto, Rivellino and Branco have shown their talents to the world. Oscar Cox was the first president of Fluminense, from July 21, 1902 to 1904.
In May 1910 he went to live in Europe and died there in Clermont-Ferrand, France, on October 6, 1931. His body was brought back to his native country in the ship "Massília" and he was buried in the "São João Baptista" Cemetery together with his father.
His younger brother Edwin (affectionally known as "Pops") would achieve greater fame in the field as champion and main goal scorer of the Ligue Romande de Football in 1900 playing for "La Villa" and as three times champion of the Rio de Janeiro State Championship in 1906, 1907 and 1908 playing for Fluminense.
