Zoca

Jair Arantes do Nascimento (22 July 1942 – 25 March 2020),[1] known as Zoca, was a Brazilian footballer who played as a forward. He was the brother of Pelé.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Arantes and the second or paternal family name is Nascimento.
Zoca
Personal information
Full name Jair Arantes do Nascimento
Date of birth (1942-07-22)22 July 1942
Place of birth Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Date of death 25 March 2020(2020-03-25) (aged 77)
Place of death Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Noroeste
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Portuguesa Santista
1960–1966 Santos 15 (4)
Managerial career
1979–1981 Manhattanville College
1982 LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Footballing career

Zoca was born in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, two years after his older brother, legendary Brazilian footballer Pelé. He grew up in the Bauru municipality in São Paulo state as a child, joining the youth academy of Noroeste in the 1950s.[2] He moved to Santos, São Paulo, joining Portuguesa Santista, where he played briefly before following in his brother's footsteps and signing for Santos in 1960.[2][3]

He made his debut for Santos on 10 April 1961, coming on as a substitute for Coutinho in a 6–1 win over America-RJ.[1] In the last minute of the game, Santos won a penalty, and though he stepped up to take it, Zoca failed to convert from the spot.[1] Between April and June 1962, with seven members of the Santos squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup, Zoca was given a run in the squad for the Copa São Paulo.[1] His first official goal for Santos came in this competition, scoring in a 2–1 loss to Corinthians de Presidente Prudente.[1] In total, he scored four goals in fifteen games for Santos, before retiring in 1966 to focus on supporting his brother's career.[1][4][5]

Later life and death

Zoca received degrees in marketing and law from the Catholic University of Santos and University of São Paulo, respectively.[3] He worked as his brother's business manager during his time with the New York Cosmos.[3]

In 1979, with Zoca looking to study English at the Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, the athletic director of the college, Joe Daunic, reached out and offered him the chance to coach the college women's soccer team while he studied, in an attempt to improve his English by immersing himself.[3] Initially reluctant, Zoca eventually agreed, going on to manage the side for three seasons.[3][6] In 1982, he was the assistant of the Long Island University women's soccer team.[7]

Zoca died on 25 March 2020, after suffering with prostate cancer.[8][9]

References
  1. "Morreu Zoca, o escudeiro do Rei" [Zoca has died, the King's squire]. santosfc.com.br (in Portuguese). 26 March 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  2. "Morre Zoca, irmão de Pelé e ex-Noroeste" [Zoca, Pelé's brother and former Noroeste player, dies]. sampi.net.br (in Portuguese). 26 March 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  3. "Peles Brother Learns as He Teaches". The New York Times. 14 October 1979. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  4. "Zoca - Que fim levou?" [Zoca - What happened?]. terceirotempo.uol.com.br (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  5. "Zoca, irmão de Pelé, morre aos 77 anos em Santos" [Zoca, Pelé's brother, dies aged 77 in Santos]. ge.globo.com (in Portuguese). 26 March 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. "Manhattanville Women's Soccer" (PDF). static.govaliants.com. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  7. "GOODBYE, JAIR: Ex-LIU men's assistant coach Arantes do Nascimento, Pele's younger brother, passes away". frontrowsoccer.com. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  8. "Pelé's younger brother Jair 'Zoca' passes away, aged 77". en.as.com. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  9. Cesarini, Beatriz (26 March 2020). "Irmão mais jovem de Pelé, Zoca morre aos 77 anos" [Pele's younger brother Zoca dies aged 77]. uol.com.br (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 February 2023.
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