Sávio

Sávio
Personal information
Full nameSávio Bortolini Pimentel
Date of birth9 January 1974
Place of birthVila Velha, Brazil
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionWinger
Youth career
1986–1988Desportiva Capixaba
1988–1993Flamengo
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1993–1997Flamengo74(20)
1998–2003Real Madrid105(16)
2002–2003→ Bordeaux (loan)27(7)
2003–2006Zaragoza95(16)
2006Flamengo10(0)
2007Real Sociedad19(5)
2007Levante12(0)
2008Desportiva Capixaba9(6)
2008–2009Anorthosis16(4)
2010Avaí8(0)
Total375(74)
National team
1994–2000Brazil21(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Brazil
Men's Football
Bronze 1996 Atlanta Team Competition

Sávio Bortolini Pimentel (born 9 January 1974), simply known as Sávio (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈsavi̯u]), is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a left winger. Known as "Anjo Loiro" ("Blonde Angel") and "Diabo Loiro" ("Blonde Devil"), he played most of his professional career in Spain – being a part of Real Madrid's setup during four and a half seasons and appearing in more than 300 official games with four different teams.

A Brazilian international in the mid/late 1990s, Sávio represented the nation in the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Club career

Flamengo / Real Madrid

Born in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Sávio started his footballing career at the Desportiva Capixaba youth team. Still as a junior he was transferred to Rio de Janeiro's Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, where he made his professional debut –[1]– he was hailed as the new Zico by the fans and the press due to his footballing ability, but also due to his frail physique.

In 1995, as part of Flamengo's centennial celebrations, Sávio teamed up with the volatile Romário and Edmundo. After clashing with the former he was transferred to Real Madrid in 1998, helping the La Liga powerhouse to three UEFA Champions League titles and the 2001 national championship; in the 2002–03 season he served a loan stint in France, at FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

Zaragoza / Flamengo

In the following season, Sávio returned to Spain and was one of the most important players in Real Zaragoza, for which he played three years. In his first the Aragonese won the Copa del Rey, precisely against Real Madrid;[2] in the second, he scored a career-best 10 league goals.[3]

In May 2006 Sávio returned to Brazil and Flamengo on a free transfer, signing a contract until December 2007. However, on 5 January of the following year, it was announced that he would be transferred to Real Sociedad also in Spain, for which he played his first league game on the 21st against Valencia CF;[4] in late June, after the Basque's relegation, he joined fellow top-divisioner Levante UD, and played there until January of the following year, leaving as many teammates due to unpaid wages.[5][6]

Later years

After a spell back in Brazil with his very first club, lowly Desportiva Capixaba,[7] Sávio signed in August 2008 with Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta FC, appearing with the club in the 2008–09 Champions League.[8] In January 2010 the 36-year-old returned to his country, joining Avaí Futebol Clube.[9]

After a few months with the Santa Catarina club, Sávio retired at the end of 2010.[10]

International career

Never a part of any FIFA World Cup finals squad, Sávio did however play with Brazil at the 1995 Copa América, where the nation lost the final to Uruguay on penalties.

He also won the bronze medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia,[11] going on to collect a total of 21 full caps with four goals.

Honours

Club

Flamengo
Real Madrid
Zaragoza
Desportiva Capixaba
Avaí

Country

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Sávio de pancada", Placar edition 1109, november 1995, Editora Abril, p. 60
  2. ↑ Beckham misses out on Cup; BBC Sport, 17 March 2004
  3. ↑ "La afición pide la renovación de Savio" [Fans want Savio to be renewed] (in Spanish). Aragón Digital. 10 January 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
  5. ↑ "El Levante libera a Savio, Storari, Viqueira y Bruno si perdonan lo que les adeudan" [Levante frees Savio, Storari, Viqueira and Bruno if they forgive debt] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Vive en su país a la espera de ofertas" [Lives in his country waiting for offers] (in Spanish). Marca. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "Savio Bortolini ficha por un equipo brasileño" [Savio Bortolini signs for Brazilian team] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 8 February 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Anorthosis claim Greek double on glory night". UEFA.com. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  9. ↑ "Sávio foi apresentado no Avaí" [Sávio presented at Avaí] (in Portuguese). Avaí's official website. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  10. ↑ Aposentado, Sávio revela o sonho de voltar para a Desportiva como gestor (Retired, Sávio talks of dream of returning to Desportiva as manager); Gazeta Online, 20 September 2011 (Portuguese)
  11. ↑ Sávio – FIFA competition record

External links