Donizete Pantera

Born in Prados, Minas Gerais, Donizete Pantera started his career at Volta Redonda at age 19. After a few months with the third tier team, he moved to São José in 1988, where he help them finish runner-up in the Campeonato Paulista in 1989, losing out to São Paulo.[2][3]

His performances led him to sign with Botafogo. With competition from Paulinho Criciúma and Milton Cruz, he only made 15 appearances in the Brasileirão, scoring once, on 14 October 1989 against Vitória.[4] In 1990, Donizete Pantera moved to Tecos UAG, spending five seasons there, being an important part in the conquest of the first and only league title for the Mexican side. On 30 April 1994, in the second leg of the championship final against Santos Laguna, with Tecos needing a goal to win the title; Donizete made an individual effort past Santos defence, scoring the second and decisive title.[5] For his influence, he won that season award for best player in the league, the Balon de Oro.[3]

In 1995. he returned to Botafogo, and partnered with Túlio Maravilha in the conquest of second league title for the club. He described the partnership as the best he ever had, "I returned to Brazil in 1995 and had the opportunity to take part in the conquest of the only league title of the Brazilian club. Me and Túlio, who was in an impressive form, scored in every way imaginable, he was the best partner I had"[6]

For the following two seasons, Donizete Pantera moved abroad, playing first at Verdy Kawasaki in the J1 League in 1996 and then moving to Portugal, playing for Benfica. He debuted on 18 August 1996, in the first leg of 1996 Supertaça against Porto, scoring his first goal on 7 September, a double against Gil Vicente.[7][8] He partnered with João Pinto in the six month he spent at Estádio da Luz, scoring 9 goals in 22 appearances, leaving in late January 1997 for Corinthians.[9]

In Corinthians, he reunited with Túlio Maravilha, winning his first Campeonato Paulista, now beating São Paulo. In the late part of 1997, Donizete Pantera moved to Vasco da Gama, being loaned out to Cruzeiro to play a single game, the 1997 Intercontinental Cup, lost to Borussia Dortmund by 2–0. At Vasco da Gama, he played with Luizão, in the conquest of the 1998 Copa Libertadores. Eliminating Cruzeiro, Grêmio and River Plate in the knock-out stages, Donizete Pantera started and scored in both legs of the 1998 Copa Libertadores Finals, as Vasco defeated Barcelona by 4–1 on aggregate.[2][6]

He stayed at Vasco da Gama until 2000, losing the 1998 Intercontinental Cup for Real Madrid, and with the arrival of Romário and Edmundo, also losing his place in the line-up. In 2000, the 32-year-old, moved to Tigres for a brief spell in Mexico, returning to Botafogo immediately after. In the final years of his career, he passed through Palmeiras, returned to Tecos twice and to Vasco da Gama once, finally retiring in 2006. In post-football, he works at a foundation created to promote young talents, Fundação Pantera Negra, plus spent time studying to become a football manager.[2][6]

He made his debut for the Brazil national team in friendly on 8 November 1995 against Argentina, in Buenos Aires, scoring the winning goal in a 1–0 victory for Brazil. It would take nearly 15 years until Brazil won a game in Argentina again. He scored a second goal on 28 August 1996, against Russia, in a 1–1 draw, making his final appearance for his national team on 15 February 1998, against Jamaica at the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[10] He admitted that the biggest disappointment in his life was not taking part in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, as he described. "I was in most of Zagallo's call ups that season. I was playing well, my performance at Vasco was helping a lot and I was really convinced I would play a World Cup. But then, right close to the announcement of the official squad, Bebeto won my place, and he was not a regular call up; Then Romário got cut out due to injury. I thought they would remember me. Hell, they chose to take Emerson instead, and he was a defensive midfielder. Then I can say that not taking part in the 98 World Cup was the biggest disappointment of my life."[6]

• Donizete Pantera at National-Football-Teams.com
• Donizete Pantera at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)