Paulo Roberto Falcão

For the current Colombian footballer known as Falcao, see Radamel Falcao García.

For the current Brazilian futsal player known as Falcão, see Alessandro Rosa Vieira.

Personal information
Falcão
Full name	Paulo Roberto Falcão
Date of birth	October 16, 1953 (age 53)
Place of birth	Santa Catarina, Brazil
Height	183cm
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Retired
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1972-1980 1980-1985 1985-1986	Internacional AS Roma São Paulo FC	107 (22)
National team²
	Brazil	36 (9)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 February 2007. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 2 February 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Paulo Roberto Falcão (born October 16, 1953) is a Brazilian former footballer. He is widely considered one of the best players in Sport Club Internacional and A.S. Roma history, and one of the most talented midfielders of all time.

[edit] Career

Falcão was born in Abelardo Luz, in the state of Santa Catarina of Southern Brazil.

He began his professional career at Sport Club Internacional of Porto Alegre, in the Rio Grande do Sul, where he played from 1973 to 1980, winning three Brazilian National Championships (1975, 1976, 1979). Falcão also played for A.S. Roma (1980-1985), winning one league title (1983) and losing an UEFA Champions League final match: his nickname in the city was "8th king of Rome". He played for São Paulo in 1985 and 1986.

Falcão played midfield for Brazil in 1982 FIFA World Cup and 1986 FIFA World Cup. He was capped 29 times between February 1976 and June 1986.

He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 Best Living Players to mark FIFA’s centennial. In 1991, he was the manager of the Brazilian national football team. In 1995, he was the manager of the Japanese national football team.

Always playing with his head up, Falcão is also known by his style outside the field, always elegant and polite.

Nowadays he provides in game commentary for Rede Globo.

Preceded by Sebastião Lazaroni	Brazilian national football team manager 1990-1991	Succeeded by Carlos Alberto Parreira
Preceded by Hans Ooft	Japan national football team manager 1994	Succeeded by Shu Kamo

	Brazil squad - 1982 FIFA World Cup
1 Valdir Peres \| 2 Leandro \| 3 Oscar \| 4 Luizinho \| 5 Toninho Cerezo \| 6 Júnior \| 7 Paulo Isidoro \| 8 Sócrates \| 9 Serginho \| 10 Zico \| 11 Éder \| 12 Paulo Sérgio \| 13 Edevaldo \| 14 Juninho \| 15 Falcão \| 16 Edinho \| 17 Pedrinho \| 18 Batista \| 19 Renato \| 20 Roberto Dinamite \| 21 Dirceu \| 22 Carlos \| Coach: Santana

	Brazil squad - 1986 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finalists
1 Carlos \| 2 Edson \| 3 Oscar \| 4 Edinho \| 5 Falcão \| 6 Júnior \| 7 Müller \| 8 Casagrande \| 9 Careca \| 10 Zico \| 11 Edivaldo \| 12 Paulo Vitor \| 13 Josimar \| 14 Júlio César \| 15 Alemão \| 16 Mauro Galvão \| 17 Branco \| 18 Sócrates \| 19 Elzo \| 20 Silas \| 21 Valdo \| 22 Leão \| Coach: Santana