Vicente Feola

Vicente Feola

Feola in 1958
Personal information
Full name	Vicente Ítalo Feola
Date of birth	(1909-11-20)20 November 1909
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Date of death	6 November 1975(1975-11-06) (aged 65)
Place of death	São Paulo, Brazil
Position(s)	Midfielder
Managerial career
Years	Team
1937–1938	São Paulo
1939	São Paulo
1941–1942	São Paulo
1947–1950	São Paulo
1955–1956	São Paulo
1958	São Paulo
1958–1959	Brazil
1961	Boca Juniors
1966	Brazil
Medal record Representing Brazil (As manager) FIFA World Cup Winner 1958 Sweden

Vicente Ítalo Feola (pronounced [ˈfɛːola]; 20 November 1909 – 6 November 1975) was a Brazilian football manager and coach from São Paulo. He is best known for leading the Brazil national team to its first FIFA World Cup title in 1958.

Biography

Feola was born in São Paulo to Italian parents. He died in 1975 aged 65.

Coaching career

São Paulo

As São Paulo FC coach, Feola won the 1948 and 1949 Campeonato Paulista.

Brazil

1958 World Cup

As Seleção boss in 1958, Feola introduced a 17-year-old Pelé 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).

Boca Juniors

Feola was appointed manager of Argentine club Boca Juniors briefly in 1961.

Brazil return

1966 World Cup

Feola returned as coach of the Brazil national team for the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. In the first round of the tournament, Brazil lost their second game against Hungary. Pelé, although still recovering, was brought back for the last crucial match against Portugal for which Feola, panicked. He changed the entire defence, 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 not fully recovered from his serious injuries. Brazil suffered a first round elimination. Under Feola's command, Brazil played 74 times, having won 55 games, tied 13 and lost 6 times.

Honours

Manager

São Paulo

• Campeonato Paulista: 1948, 1949

Brazil

• FIFA World Cup: 1958

Further reading

• Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 2 – Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.

External links

• Vicente Feola coach profile at National-Football-Teams.com
• Vicente Feola coach profile at Soccerway