Zé Maria (footballer, born 1973)

José Marcelo Ferreira (born 25 July 1973), commonly known as Zé Maria, is a retired Brazilian football player turned coach. He is currently working for Parma as a technical collaborator within the club's youth system.

Zé Maria
Personal information
Full name José Marcelo Ferreira
Date of birth (1973-07-25) 25 July 1973
Place of birth Oeiras (PI - Brazil)
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Right back
Right midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Parma (technical collaborator)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1995 Portuguesa 28 (2)
1993 → Sergipe (loan) 38 (5)
1994 → Ponte Preta (loan) 22 (0)
1996 Flamengo 14 (1)
1996–1998 Parma 45 (2)
1998–2004 Perugia 144 (16)
1999 → Vasco Gama (loan) 34 (4)
1999 → Palmeiras (loan) 15 (1)
2000 → Cruzeiro (loan) 29 (2)
2004–2006 Inter Milan 29 (1)
2006–2007 Levante 14 (0)
2008 Portuguesa 5 (1)
2008–2009 Città Castello
Total 416 (35)
International career
1996–2001 Brazil 25 (0)
Managerial career
2010 Group Castello
2010 Catanzaro
2015 Ceahlăul
2016–2017 Gor Mahia
2017–2018 Tirana
2019 Portuguesa
2022– Parma (technical collaborator)
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Men's Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place1996 AtlantaTeam Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Known for his pin-point crosses, he could play either as a right back or right midfielder, and played the vast majority of his professional career, other than in his country, in Italy's Serie A, where he represented three teams, mainly Perugia.

Club career

Born in Oeiras, Piauí, Zé Maria started his professional career with Portuguesa in 1991, being loaned two times during his contract with the club. In 1995, he was selected in the Bola de Prata Brazilian League team of the year. This led to him being signed by Flamengo in 1996.

In the summer, Zé Maria moved to Italy after signing with Serie A club Parma, playing regularly for two seasons. Subsequently, he remained in Italy, joining Perugia.

With the Umbrians Zé Maria had a shaky start, being loaned three times back to Brazil, during which time he won the Copa Libertadores with Palmeiras, and the Copa do Brasil with Cruzeiro. Eventually, he established himself in the Perugia starting line-up, helping his team finish 10th in his third full season whilst contributing with six goals. Via the UEFA Intertoto Cup he and the side reached the third round of the subsequent UEFA Cup,[1] but also suffered domestic relegation.

After two seasons with giants Inter[2] – playing rather regularly in his first but making only eight appearances (mostly as a substitute) in his second (with Inter winning the Scudetto courtesy of the Calciopoli affair), 49 official ones overall – Zé Maria was released and joined La Liga club Levante UD on a free transfer:[3] starting the season as first-choice right-back the 33-year-old lost the position and finished with 14 league appearances, with the Valencians barely avoiding relegation.

Released again, Zé Maria entailed unsuccessful negotiations with several teams, reportedly Sheffield United[4] and Queens Park Rangers in England, thus returning to Brazil and Portuguesa in January 2008. In August, after having rescinded his contract, he surprisingly accepted an offer from A.S.D. Città di Castello, in the Italian Eccellenza (amateur championships).[5]

Zé Maria settled in Italy after his retirement from football, at the age of 36.[6] He subsequently founded a football school in Perugia.[7]

International career

Zé Maria gained 25 caps for Brazil over a period of five years. He was not selected for any FIFA World Cup but did participate in two FIFA Confederations Cups, including the original in Saudi Arabia which the national team won, and one Copa América (also ended in win, in Bolivia).[8]

In 1996 Zé Maria helped the Olympic team win bronze at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, appearing in all six matches.

Managerial career

Beginnings

On 15 March 2010 Zé Maria took his first head coaching job, accepting Serie D club S.S.D. Group Città di Castello's offer.[9] He was then appointed manager of fourth division team F.C. Catanzaro for the 2010–11 campaign, being however removed from his post after a few months.[10]

Tirana

On 16 June 2017, Tirana announced the signing of Zé Maria on a one-year contract.[11] He lost his first match in charge later on 29 June, a 2–0 away loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv at Netanya Stadium in the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round.[12] Tirana was knocked out from the competition after losing the second leg.[13]

Zé Maria won his first silverware with the club later on 6 September, the 2017 Albanian Supercup, with Tirana defeating Kukësi thanks to an Erion Hoxhallari late winner.[14] By doing so, Tirana become the first ever Albanian First Division club to win the supercup.[14] Tirana begun the championship by recording a 1–0 home win versus Iliria Fushë-Krujë.[15] They successfully eliminated Besa Kavajë 4–1 on aggregate in the 2017–18 Albanian Cup first round.[16] Tirana ended September by winning all the matches, and did so also in November, taking the lead of Group B.[17] During his time, Zé Maria also guided Tirana to the biggest win of the season, 6–0 versus Shkumbini Peqin.[18]

Tirana finished the year in the first place, conceding only one defeat, the one versus Bylis Ballsh.[19] Zé Maria called the defeat "a shame".[19] The team also eliminated Vllaznia Shkodër in the second round of Albanian Cup.[20] In January 2018, Tirana brought Kenneth Muguna, Mohammed Musa and Samson Iliasu at the request of Zé Maria.[21][22] In February 2018, Tirana was eliminated by Kukësi in the quarter-final of Albanian Cup.[23]

Tirana continued their winning streak, eventually finished top of Group B to qualify to promotion play-off.[24] Later on 14 April, the team mathematically achieved promotion to top flight next season by winning 3–2 at home against Pogradeci.[25] On 16 May, Tirana was named Albanian First Division champions after beating 2–0 the Group A winners Kastrioti Krujë.[26] Later on 2 June, Zé Maria agreed a contract extension with the club until June 2020.[27]

Later years

On 5 October 2022, Parma announced to have hired Zé Maria as a technical collaborator for the youth team.[28]

Managerial record
As of 17 June 2017
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Gor Mahia F.C. Jan 2016 Jun 2017
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Tirana 17 June 2017 12 October 2018 46 30 7 9 065.22

Honours

Player
Flamengo
Palmeiras
Cruzeiro
Perugia
Inter Milan
Brazil

Managerial
Tirana

References
  1. "Magico Perugia, è in Uefa" [Perugia magical, it is in UEFA] (in Italian). Gazzetta.it. August 26, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  2. "Zé Maria refuerza al Inter" [Zé Maria reinforces Inter] (in Spanish). UEFA.com. August 2, 2004. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  3. "Ze María, presentado como nuevo jugador granota" [Zé Maria presented as the new granota player] (in Spanish). Levante UD. August 23, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  4. Zé Maria snubs Sheffield contract; Mirror, 15 September 2007
  5. "Dalla A all'Eccellenza: i big del calcio che giocano per divertirsi" [From A to Eccellenza: Football greats who play for fun]. La Stampa (in Italian). August 29, 2008. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  6. "A tu per tu...with Zè Maria" [One on one...with Zé Maria]. Tutto Mercato (in Italian). August 29, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  7. "Zé Maria spends week watching Inter train". Inter Milan. January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  8. "Copa América 1997". RSSSF. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  9. "Storie di ex – Zè Maria diventa allenatore del Group Città di Castello" [About ex – Zé Maria becomes Group Città di Castello's coach]. Gazzetta di Parma (in Italian). March 15, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  10. "Calcio, Catanzaro: Esonerato Zé Maria, squadra ad aloi" [Football, Catanzaro: Zé Maria sacked, Aloi takes charge of team]. La Repubblica (in Italian). November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  11. Dennis Mabuka (June 16, 2017). "EX-GOR MAHIA COACH ZE MARIA APPOINTED IN ALBANIA". Goal.com. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  12. "M. Tel-Aviv 2-0 Tirana". UEFA. June 29, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  13. "Tirana 0-3 M. Tel-Aviv". UEFA. July 6, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  14. "Hoxhallari mposht Kukësin, Tirana fiton Superkupën" [Hoxhallari defeats Kukësi, Tirana wins Supercup] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. September 6, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  15. "Tirana – Iliria 1-0" (in Albanian). kftirana.al. September 16, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  16. "Tirana vs. Besa Kavajë 2 – 0". Soccerway. September 27, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  17. "Tirana merr "arratinë", Egnatia turpëron Besën" [Tirana takes "flight", Egnatia humiliates Besa]. Sport Ekspres (in Albanian). October 28, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  18. "Tirana "show", Shkumbini turpërohet në Peqin" [Tirana "show", Shkumbini humiliated Peqin]. Sport Ekspres (in Albanian). October 14, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  19. "Zisi pushton Tiranën, Ze Maria: Ishim për turp" [Zisi invades Tirana, Zé Maria: We were a shame]. Sport Ekspres (in Albanian). November 5, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  20. "Tirana humb por kualifikohet ne Shkodër" [Tirana lose but qualifies in Shkodër] (in Albanian). kftirana.al. December 13, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  21. "Tirana largohet Ristevski, konfirmohet Samson Iliasu" [Tirana, Ristevski leaves, Samson Iliasu confirmed]. Sport Ekspres (in Albanian). January 25, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  22. "Godet Kastrioti, firmos mbrojtësi i Kenias. Edhe një huazim nga Tirana" [Kastrioti strikes, Kenya defender signs. Even a loan from Tirana]. Sport Ekspres (in Albanian). February 1, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  23. "Kukësi eliminon Tiranën nga Kupa e Shqipërisë. Kualifikohet Laçi" [Kukësi eliminated Tirana from Albanian Cup, Laçi qualifies]. Gazeta Shqiptare (in Albanian). February 14, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  24. "Kategoria e Parë, përcaktohen renditjet në play-off e play-out" [First Division, ranking of play-off and play-out are defined]. Sport Ekspres (in Albanian). March 3, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  25. "Futbolli në festë, Tirana rikthehet në Superiore" [Football is celebrating, Tirana returns to Superliga]. Gazeta Shqip (in Albanian). April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  26. "VIDEO/ Dopieta e Grecës, Tirana mposht Kastriotin dhe shpallet kampione e Kategorisë së Parë" [VIDEO/ Greca's double, Tirana defeats Kastrioti and named Albanian First Division champion]. Panorama Sport (in Albanian). May 16, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  27. "Projekti Superiore nis me rinovimin e Ze Marias" [Superliga project starts with Zé Maria renewal]. kftirana.al (in Albanian). June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  28. "ZE' MARIA, UNA "PARMA LEGEND" PER IL SETTORE GIOVANILE CROCIATO" (in Italian). Parma Calcio 1913. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
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