Vicente Feola

Vicente Feola
Personal information
Full nameVicente Ítalo Feola
Date of birth20 November 1909
Place of birthSão Paulo, Brazil
Date of death6 November 1975 (aged 65)
Place of deathSão Paulo, Brazil
Teams managed
YearsTeam
1937–1938São Paulo FC
1939São Paulo FC
1941–1942São Paulo FC
1948–1949São Paulo FC
1947–1950São Paulo FC
1955–1956São Paulo FC
1958Brazil
1959São Paulo FC
1961Boca Juniors
1966Brazil

Vicente Ítalo Feola (20 November 1909 – 6 November 1975) was a Brazilian football manager and coach who lived in São Paulo. He became famous for leading the Brazilians to their first FIFA World Cup title in 1958.

Biography

Feola was born in São Paulo to Italian parents.

As São Paulo FC coach, Feola won the 1948 and 1949 Campeonato Paulista. As Seleção boss in 1958, Feola introduced a 17-year-old Pele to the footballing world, winning the FIFA World Cup in Sweden, the first and to date only time a non-European side has won a World Cup on European soil. The team trained in Hindås in Sweden during the tournament (pictured). Feola was appointed manager of Argentine club Boca Juniors briefly in 1961. He returned as coach of the Brazilian national team in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Under his command, Brazil played 74 times, having won 55 games, tied 13 and lost 6 times. He died in 1975 aged 65.

World Cup

In first round of 1966 FIFA World Cup, Brazil lost their second game against Hungary.[1] Pelé although still recovering, was brought back for the last crucial match against Portugal for which Feola, panicked. He changed the entire defense, including the goalkeeper. In the attack, he maintained Jairzinho and substituted the other two players. In the midfield, he returned to the formation of the first match, even knowing that Pelé was still recovering from his serious injuries.[2][3]

Honours

Club

São Paulo FC

International

Brazil (Manager)

References

Further reading

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Germany Sepp Herberger
FIFA World Cup winning managers
1958
Succeeded by
Brazil Aymoré Moreira