SAMBA SNIPER
R omário de Souza was born on 29th January 1966 in Jacarezinho, the second largest favela of Rio de Janeiro… the eternal carnival city. His parents Edevair de Souza Faria and Manuela ladislau Faria struggled financially but that did not stop the young Romario having lofty visions of emulating Emerson Fittipaldi to become Brazil’s next F1 World Champion. Fortunately for Ayrton Senna and the beautiful game, Romário’s father successfully encouraged 'Baixinho' (Shorty) to pursue the dream of becoming a professional footballer instead.
Romario’s budding skills were honed through endless hours spent playing in the anarchic and unforgiving 25-a-side street matches in his neighbourhood. Even in these massed games it was clear that the diminutive youngster was a cut above. Anticipating his own meteoric rise in the game, Romario would practice signing his name in preparation for the many signatures he would have to sign in the future.
Soon it was time to abandon the streets and master grass. Romario initally played for the local youth team set up by his father - ‘Estelinha da Vila da Penha (The Little Stars). It afforded Romario the opportunity to cultivate his 11 aside game and by the age of 13, he was offered a trial for the local football club, Olaria FC, a small professional outfit operating in the shade of Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama and Botafogo.
Romario duly impressed and was offered a contract by the club’s management who were astonished by the youngster’s freakish ability to leave larger powerful defenders looking foolish. Within a year at Olaria, he began drawing attention from the likes of Vasco de Gama. Initial concerns about his physical stature prevented Vasco coaches from pulling the trigger but after ‘Baixinho’ scored four past their youth side, these fears were immediately dispelled.
EARLY CAREER
BREAKING THROUGH AT VASCO (1985-1988)
1985 Season
After cementing his burgeoning reputation in the Vasco youth system, Romario was selected for Brazil’s under-20 side. He proceeded to score 11 goals in 11 games thus earning himself a trip to Moscow for the 1985 World Youth Championships. It was here where the first hint of Romario’s destructive temperament rose to the surface… sent home before a ball was even struck after being caught urinating off the balcony of the team hotel.
Such ignominy would have derailed the career of many a footballer but Romario barely looked back as he exploded into life for the Vasco De Gama first team. Forging a lethal strike force with club legend Roberto Dinamite - considered Zico’s greatest rival - together they drove the club to second in the Campeonato Carioca – Rio’s state league, behind Fluminense.
1986 Season
The following season Romario scored 20 goals in 25 games becoming the Campeonato Carioca ‘s top goalscorer but once again Vasco would finish second, behind a star-studded Flamengo side which contained the likes of Zico, Socrates, Aldair and fellow rising star Bebeto. In the tougher Brazilian national league fixtures, which due to federational disputes would take place near the end of the year, Romario managed an admirable 9 goals in 23 appearances
1987 Season
The 1987 edition of the Campeonato Carioca kicked off on February 8, 1987 with the Rio-based media keen fuel the fire between Vasco’s Romario and Flamengo’s Bebeto. It would ultimately be Romário and Vasco who took the local bragging rights, beating Flamengo to the 1987 Campeonato Carioca with Romario taking the plaudits as the golden boot winner again.
With Romario presenting an irrepressible case for a reprieve, the Selecao came calling again in 1987 and handed him a debut against the Republic of Ireland in a friendly. He adapted immediately to international football, scoring four goals in his first six appearances including a goal for Brazil during the 1987 Copa America as a substitute versus Venezuela. Romario had now firmly established himself as Careca’s heir apparent.
1988 Season
In 1988, Romario once again proved pivotal in helping Vasco retain the title despite a spirited effort by Flamengo and Bebeto (who would take the golden boot with his 17 goals to Romario’s 16). In the first leg of title decider, Romario flicked the ball over the on-rushing keeper to score an iconic winner in a pulsating encounter. A devastated Flamengo simply lacked the resolve to overturn the 2-1 deficit in the return leg. With another state championship sewn up, there was the small matter of the Olympics to attend to… where he would eventually line up next to arch-rival Bebeto…
1988 OLYMPICS
Brazil opened their Olympic campaign with a thumping 4-0 victory over Nigeria. Romario initially started up front with Careca but only truly came alive with Bebeto’s arrival - scoring a brace in the last quarter of the game. The next fixture was against the gritty Australians where Romario beat three players to open the scoring and proceeded to complete a stunning hat-trick.
In the Quarter-Finals, Brazil would face arch-rivals Argentina. In a narrow 1-0 win, Romario failed to shine but in the semi final against Germany, he made up for it with the equalising goal to send the game to extra time. With no goal to break the deadlock and the game going to penalties, Romario scored what would effectively be the winning penalty of the shootout.
In the final against Russia, Romario scored the opener, sneaking in at the far post from a corner… a typically Muller Esque strike. Unfortunately haphazard defending by the Brazilians let the Soviets back into the game and in extra time, after failing to deal with yet another long ball, Savichev and rounded the keeper to earn the gold medal for Russia. Despite only obtaining a silver medal, Romário’s Olympic performances firmly established his reputation beyond the shores of the Copacabana. It was time to head to Europe.
PSV EINDHOVEN (1988 - 1993)
1988/1989 Season
In the 1980’s PSV, at the behest of their primary benefactors Philips, adopted a policy of signing players with flair and implemented a scouting system which enabled them to keep tabs on the hottest Latin talent. Philips believed that attracting silky South American superstars would lead to worldwide exposure for their brand but they simply lacked the leverage to compete for the likes of Maradona and Zico, who came to Europe as established international icons.
Despite their far-reaching ambitions it was attracting talents closer to home in the form of Ruud Gullit and Guus Hiddink that PSV began to make waves not just domestically but on the continent, culminating in their historic treble in 1988. Keen to strike while the iron was hot and take advantage of their new-found leverage, Philips decided to find themselves a young Latin prodigy who had the capacity to explode and become a household name.
Improving the attack of a treble winning side that had scored 117 league goals in a single campaign was always going to prove impossible from a statistical perspective. Nevertheless, Romario adapted well to playing in the Eredivisie scoring a respectable 26 goals in 34 games, securing another league title for PSV. He also helped secure a second trophy with the opening goal of the KNVB Cup final in a 4-1 win against FC Groningen.
The litmus test for Romario was the European Cup… could he help PSV emulate Ajax of the 1970’s and win back to back continental titles? Having not been utilised for most the European campaign, Romario was finally unleashed in the Quarter-Finals… against Real Madrid. Reinforcing his growing reputation as the Brazilian Gerd Muller, Romario fearlessly produced clinical finishes in both legs yet still ended on the losing side as PSV went out 3-2 on aggregate.
COPA AMERICA 1989
Going into the 1989 Copa America, Brazilian football was facing an identity crisis. The heartbreak of the 1982 World Cup was still lingering in the memory and the attempt to modernise the set up with the appointment of Sebastião Lazaroni, a 3x Rio champion with Flamengo and Vasco was not generating results. A tragic tour to Europe prior to the Copa yielded three defeats to Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland, and a goalless draw with Milan. The Selecao faithful were baying for blood.
First Group Stage
The tournament kicked off in Bahai, with a routine 3-1 win against Venezuela which was marred by ugly scenes of so-called Brazilian fans booing their own team in retribution for the dropping of local idol Charles Baiano, A few days later at the same venue, Renato Gaucho was egged by a 'fan' moments before the fixture against Peru. With tensions between the fans and the players at boiling point, a beleaguered Brazil could only manage a laborious draw.and followed it up with another listless performance against Columbia.
At this stage the players too were at loggerheads. Romario and Bebeto who had been dropped for the game against Columbia, were barely on speaking terms with the simmering rivalry they endured at club level seeping into their ability to combine on the pitch. Eventually Romario blinked first. Sensing that the rivalry was simply getting in the way of his desire to succeed with the national team, he sought to thaw the ice with Bebeto. Romario's offering of an olive branch was duly accepted by Bebeto and thus the stage was set for the duo to repeat their heroics from the 1988 Olympics.
The first hurdle they had to clear was the decisive game against Paraguay. 76,800 fans flocked to Arruda and witnessed a rejuvenated Selecao side outplay a rugged Paraguayan outfit, securing a 2-0 win and qualification into the next round. At the end of the game, a fan running across the field with the Brazilian flag marked the reconciliation with the crowd. Their next fixture promised to prove a sterner test... it was against reigning World Cup champions... Diego Maradona's Argentina.
Second Group Stage
In front of 100,000 fans in attendance at a packed Estádio do Maracanã, Bebeto and Romario took Argentina to the cleaners, grabbing a goal each and generally leaving the Argentine back-line at sixes and sevens. Maradona not usually renowned for his sportsmanship commented that Bebeto's goal was one of the most beautiful volleys he had ever seen. Their next fixture was a rematch against Paraguay where once again the duo proved irresistable with Romario grabbing a brace in a 3-0 demolition.
In the final fixture, Brazil faced Uruguay with both teams on level points and both in with a shout of lifting the trophy. 150,000 spectators flooded the Estádio do Maracanã for what would prove to be a seminal fixture. The match itself proved to be a high-stakes game of chess with space at an absolute premium. Cue Romario just after the interval, suddenly finding himself in between two gargantuan defenders and masterfully heading home what would prove to be the winner. Pandemonium, ecstasy, delirium - it was as if the ghosts of 1950 had been exhumed there and then. Brazil won their fourth Copa América, ended a 19-year streak without official titles and their first Copa America title since 1949.
THE PATH TO ITALIA 90
1989/1990 Season
The following season Romario blazed a trail of destruction as he struck a phenomenal 31 goals in 27 games, including a memorable hat-trick against Steaua Bucharest in the European Cup which sparked comparisons with Diego Maradona. Unfortunately Romario would pick up a serious ankle injury shortly after his mesmerising display which would ultimately derail PSV’s season; finishing a point behind Ajax in the league and knocked out of Europe by Bayern Munich, with only the KNVB Cup for consolation.
1990 World Cup
Despite his best efforts to get fit for the 1990 World Cup, Romario simply lacked the physical condition to be risked as a starter in Brazil’s opening fixtures. It was only after Brazil secured passage to the Round of 16 that Romario was given 65 minutes before being hauled off for his own good. Such was the concern about his fitness, Romario failed to even make the bench for what would prove to be a fatal fixture against arch rivals Argentina.
THE BOBBY ROBSON YEARS
1990/1991 Season
PSV sought a manager capable of instilling discipline into an increasingly fractious squad and Romario in particular. Whilst his performances had been nothing short of scintillating under Hiddink, there was persistent talk of his penchant for the nightlife. His lack of work ethic was cited as the cause of his inability to last the distance the previous campaign. Sir Bobby Robson was duly appointed as Hiddink's replacement - his exceptional man-management was considered to be the key to winning the Brazilian over.
In truth - very shortly into his tenure - an exasperated Robson gave up trying to reign in Romario’s animalistic instincts and yet was equally incapable of leaving the Brazilian out of the side such was his sheer potency in front of goal. 25 goals in 25 league games helped secure the Eredivisie title for PSV and re-establish their domestic dominance. In Europe it was a different story. Although PSV had qualified for the ECWC they failed to take it seriously...exiting to French minnows Montpellier.
1991/1992 Season
Romario did not make the Brazilian squad for the 1991 Copa America finals with Falcao, in his brief tenure as head coach, deciding to leave him out on the basis of ill-discipline. Domestically, it would prove to be another injury plagued season as Romario suffered a broken leg early into the campaign. Despite his lengthy absence, PSV cantered to another league victory but in Europe, his absence would prove costly. PSV would go out in the second round of the European Cup to Anderlecht. Another embarassing failure on the continent proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Bobby Robson’s spell in charge.
PARTING FROM PSV
1992/1993 Season
In what would prove to be Romario’s final season with PSV, Romario scored 32 goals in 39 games but would end the season trophy less as PSV finished second in the league behind Feyenoord, went out in the quarters in the KNVB Cup and failed to qualify from the inaugural group stage of the newly revamped Champions League (the successor to the European Cup). Despite these disappointments, from an individual perspective Romario had hit new heights with 7 goals in 9 CL Fixtures.
A hat-trick against AEK Athens in the Second Round particularly caught the eye with a third goal which was the personification of 'Joga Bonito' itself - consecutive flamboyant flicks over impending traffic sealed with an assured finish in the midst of utter pandemonium. In the Group Stage, Romario scored a brace against Porto (including a sumptuous free-kick) and a brilliantly worked turn and shot in one flowing movement against the mighty AC Milan. However with results still not forthcoming, Romario ran out of steam as PSV finished bottom of the group.
Banished by Brazil
In 1992, during Romário's successful season at PSV Eindhoven, he was called up to the national team for a friendly match against Germany on 16 December 1992 in Porto Alegre – Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira left Romário as a reserve, after which he expressed his dissatisfaction, saying he would not have come over from Netherlands if he had known he was not going to play. These declarations caused Parreira to ban Romário from the Brazilian team.
PEAK PHASE
FC BARCELONA (1993-1995)
Johann Cruyff was a man on a mission after Barcelona’s failure to defend their European Cup title. Domestically, they had swept all before them with back to back La Liga titles but in truth a solitary continental triumph was hardly going to trouble the history books. Cruyff knew that in order to build a ‘Dream Team’ like that of Ajax of the 70’s, … he needed to up the flair quotient, and secure multiple Champions Leagues.
For Cruyff it was a no brainer to bring Romario, the leading scorer of the 1992/1993 Champions League with an exceptional goals to games career ratio. He promised goals and entertainment in equal measure.. A £10.8 million transfer fee was duly agreed with PSV and it was time for the Camp Nou to provide a stage befitting the greatest Brazilian forward since the great Pele.
1993/1994 Season
The 1993/1994 season would prove to be Romario’s magnum opus as a footballer…but upon closer inspection whilst Romario was in electrifying form in La Liga, in the Champions League – he only scored 2 goals in 8 games. This was partly due to the three foreigners rule which prevented Stoichkov, Laudrup and Romario lining up together thus depriving Romario of the service he was accustomed to domestically. Despite Romario’s lacklustre individual contribution, such was the fear he evoked in opposition defences that he effectively drew attention away from Stoichkov who fired Barcelona into the final with 7 goals in 8 games.
1994 Champions League Final
Going into the 1994 Champions League Final as firm favourites, Barcelona fancied their chances of lifting their second ‘Big Ears’ and secure their place in the annals of history. Milan's preparations were in disarray: Marco van Basten was still out with a long-term injury, Gianluigi Lentini the world's most expensive footballer was also injured and iconic defensive duo Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta were suspended. Furthermore due to the three-foreigners rule Fabio Capello was forced to leave out Florin Răducioiu, Jean-Pierre Papin and Brian Laudrup.
Barcelona in comparison had it good though they would be forced to play without Michael Laudrup who Cruyff considered dispensable compared to Romario, Stoichkov and Koeman. With all their selection issues, Milan decided to play Paulo Maldini at centre back. Despite his inexperience as a central defender, Maldini possessed a fine footballing brain and the perfect blend of agility, speed and aggression to neuter the Brazilian’s unique threat. He also had featured at centre back against Romario when the Brazilian featured for PSV… keeping a clean sheet.
As the game got underway it became quickly apparent that the loss of Michael Laudrup would prove fatal. Barcelona enjoyed a lot of sterile possession in their own half with Guardiola unable to thread the ball to the forwards due to the dominating presence of Marcel Desailly who was a human shield in front of the Milan defence. If the ball did ever find Romario he was hounded out of possession and not permitted any breathing space in and around the box… Maldini was proving to be an incredibly difficult man-marker to shake off. His only source of support was Stoichkov who also found it difficult to penetrate the deep-set Milanese defence.
Whilst Barcelona were going round in circles, Milan were picking them off at will… 2-0 up at half time through a Daniel Massaro brace. After the break, Milan could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas but Fabio Capello was a hard task master who was aware that 2-1 is the most dangerous score in football. Urging his side to stay alive for any counter attacking opportunities, on the 47th minute Savicevic nicked the ball off a flailing Nadal and proceeded to lob the keeper from 20 yards at an acute angle… putting the game out of reach of Barcelona. Desailly would secure a fourth to compound a night of misery for Romario and Barcelona.
1994 WORLD CUP
Brazil played the first seven matches of the 1994 World Cup qualification without Romário, and suffered their first loss ever in World Cup qualifying against Bolivia. His exclusion provoked a wave of outrage, with journalists and fans calling for his return to the team. Parreira the Brazilian coach relented and recalled Romário for the do or die game against Uruguay at the Maracanã Stadium. Back in his beloved number 11 jersey, prior to the game Romário stated: "I already know what is going to happen: I'm going to finish Uruguay". Brazil won 2–0, with Romário scoring both goals, and qualified for the World Cup.
Group Stage
Brazil opened their tournament against a weak Russian side which lacked the resolve of the former USSR. Early into the game, Romario confused his marker at the far post from a corner and gently stabbed the ball with the outside of his foot to score. He then proceeded to win a penalty after being clumsily felled at the end of a mazy run thus sealing a 2-0 win. Brazil then faced the dark horses of Italia 90, Cameroon. Once again Romario set the ball rolling, running on to a Dunga pass and calmly rolling it under the keeper. Brazil would eventually saunter to a 3-0 win. Their final fixture was against Sweden where Brazil found themselves trailing after a remarkable goal by Kennett Andersson. Parity was eventually restored when Romario ran at the heart of the Swedish defence before firing a fatal toe poke at the far corner just as he entered the box... 1-1.
Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals
In the Round of 16, Brazil faced a well-drilled USA who kept the Selecao at bay until the 72nd minute,, when Romario drove at the Americans before slyly feeding in Bebeto to stroke home the winner. In the Quarter-Finals, Brazil faced the Netherlands who in Dennis Bergkamp possessed a magician in his physical prime - a feared rival of Romario's back in the early 90's.
After a cagey first half, Brazil exploded into life in the 53rd minute when Bebeto drifted wide and drilled a pass across the box for Romario to side foot home. Moments later, the roles were reversed as Romario turned provider for Bebeto who rounded the keeper to make it 2-0. Just when the semi's seemed in sight, the tables dramatically turned with the Dutch fighting back via goals from Bergkamp and WInter. The game was heading to extra time before an audacious long range free-kick from Branco finally confirmed victory.
Semi-Finals
In the Semi's, Brazil would face a rematch against the stubborn Swedes. With a quarter of the game gone, Romario had the chance to emulate Maradona's goal v Belgium, slaloming and skipping his way through a series of statuesque Swedes, leaving them in his wake. With the goal gaping in front of him, Romario inexplicably fired a weak effort directly at Patrick Andersson instead of hammering it either side of him. If there was any consolation, Mazinho's follow up effort was even worse and he was subbed off at half time. Brazil continued to produce countless chances but an unusually prolifgate Romario was simply not putting them away. With the clock ticking down, Brazil were beginning to lose hope... before Romario lifted spirits by heading home the winner on the 80th minute.
The Final
The Final was a replay of the 1970 World Cup Final...Brazil vs Italy. For Brazilians it was a particularly poignant encounter, a chance to demonstrate that Brazilian football had evolved from the naivete of the 80's and had developed a new cynical edge. In order to cope with the lethal threat of Romario, Italy in desperation brought back their skipper Franco Baresi who had sustained an injury to his meniscus in Italy's second group match and paired him with the agile Maldini at centre back. The Italian pair put in a stellar showing, thwarting Romario and preventing him with any real sight of goal. Romario relied on the clumsiness of larger defenders to wrong foot them but in Baresi and Maldini he had met his match - both were tremendously mobile and intelligent.
With both teams visibly wilting in the searing heat, the match laboured to a goalless draw and it would be decided by a dreaded penalty shoot-out. Despite the frustration of not having scored in open play, Romario kept his cool and converted Brazil's second penalty in the shoot-out, Branco and Dunga also converted their penalties but for the Italians, Massaro and then Baggio would fatefully miss. The ghosts of 1982 could be lain to rest... Brazil were World Champions once again. Romário was duly awarded the World Cup Golden Ball and named in the World Cup All-Star Team.
SATURATED BY PRAISE AND PRIZES
1994/1995 Season
Baixinho was now the hottest property in world football and soon to be named the FIFA World Player of the year. Having hit such dizzying heights, the only way was down. Whilst he was never particularly renowned for his professionalism, it took a turn for the worse after the 1994 World Cup. Like many Brazilian footballers, winning the World Cup represented the pinnacle for Romario. He had matched the likes of Pele and Garrincha and increasingly lacked the motivation for the cut and thrust of club football.
A harrowing 5-0 defeat to Real Madrid sent alarm bells ringing in Catalunya and spurred Cruyff to attack both Romario and Stoichkov in the media… hinting that their egos were at the heart of Barcelona’s rapid decline. “Saturated by praise and prizes” muttered Cruyff, not wanting to pull any punches. What Cruyff failed to confess was the key role that Michael Laudrup had played in the encounter… he was now in the white shirt of Real Madrid, having not forgiven the Dutchman for failing to play him in the Champions League final against Milan. Barcelona lacked their heartbeat.
Whilst rumour and conjecture surrounded Romario and his future at the club, Romario proved that when engaged, he was still capable of ruining Europe’s leading defences at will… with his performances against Manchester United sending shockwaves through English football. The ease with which he found space and made mugs of the likes of Steve Bruce, made it even more frustrating that the leading player in world football was more concerned with travelling to Brazil for parties in Rio rather than embellishing his legacy at Barca.
Romario would eventually only score 4 goals in 13 La Liga games as negotiations for an improved contract broke down in the winter of 1994. The transfer tattle became deafening once it transpired Romario had met Flamengo chairman Kleber Leite while back in Brazil on holiday over the new year and had stayed longer than agreed. Cruyff wanted to wash his hands of Romario by this stage and when a £4,000,000 offer was received from Flamengo, it was accepted without a moment’s hesitation.
In hindsight it seems crazy that the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year would leave one of the leading clubs in the game to head back to the Brazilian league but in many ways it provided an insight as to what made him such an effective forward. He was an enigma, extremely competitive yet someone who could detach himself from the seriousness of the game… thus able to focus under pressure yet treat it like a mere kickabout on the sandy beaches of the Copacabana. The danger was that at any stage this finely tuned balance could tip over the edge and he just wouldn’t give a fuck.
FLOURISHING AT FLAMENGO
1995 Season
Flamengo were Vasco De Gama’s big rival in the 80’s – so why did Romario go there? Well teams such as Palmeiras based in Sao Paulo simply were not considered as Romario desired a return to Rio de Janeiro. Vasco De Gama were unable to put together a viable financial package and neither could Flamengo in truth, but in Leite they had a man with a silver tongue. The Flamengo chairman successfully convinced commercial heavyweights such as Banco Real, BarraShopping, Brahma and Umbro to cough up the money on the premise that Romario would be worth his weight in gold in terms of advertising revenue.
Back home in Rio, Romario seemed to rediscover his shooting boots, striking 26 goals in 21 regional league games. His potency in front of goal ensured that Flamengo kept up with a resurgent Fluminense in a pulsating race for the Campeonato Carioca. In a nail-biting showdown in front of 112,000 screaming fans at the Maracana… Flamengo came back from 2-0 down courtesy of Romario’s inspiration only to be fatally wounded by Renato Gaucho’s last ditch ‘belly winner’.
1996 Season
The following season Romario scored 19 in 26 games as Flamengo stormed to the Campeonato Carioca title. Despite Flamengo's success, they had a fluctuating squad with numerous arrivals in and out the door, Romario found himself at times playing with Bebeto at one stage and Edmundo another. Romario had begged for the arrival of Edmundo and whilst their partnership did not set the world alight the first time round, they were responsible for inciting one of the biggest on-field brawls in South American history...
During Flamengo’s Supercopa Libertadores game against Vélez Sársfield of Argentina, Edmundo would receive an elbow to the face after trying to outfox Mazola. The thuggish Mazola did not take too kindly to Edmundo’s retaliatory slap and proceeded to finish the Brazilian off once and for all... poleaxing him with a monstrous roundhouse punch. Keen to avenge his fallen partner, Romario pulled off a Bruce Lee-esque kung fu kick on the giant Mazola who was triple his size… Romario had many flaws but no one could fault his loyalty or courage in the face of adversity.
RETURNS TO SPANISH FOOTBALL WITH VALENCIA
1996/1997 Season
Despite all the adulation and lifestyle benefits Romario had become accustomed to since his return to Brazil, the competitive beast within him hankered after a starring role at a big European giant. With the likes of Milan, Madrid, Manchester United not showing any interest… Romario secured a transfer to up and coming Valencia who under strict disciplinarian Luis Aragones had finished 2nd in the league behind Radomir Antic’s Atletico Madrid. Despite his advancing years, Romario thought he could be the final piece of the jigsaw of Aragones’ well-built jigsaw and be an upgrade to the departing Mijatovic.
Unfortunately for Romario, behind the scenes Aragones did not care too much for Romario’s lackadaisical attitude to training and his unwillingness to work for the team outside of the final third. From the outset, he made the point of dropping Romario for the UEFA Cup glamour tie against Bayern Munich but it was a grave error of judgement and from that moment on he had lost the trust of his star striker.
In spite of his fractious relationship with Aragones, Romario started the season in fine fettle, scoring 4 goals in 5 games including a stupendous volley from 30 yards against the reigning champions Atletico Madrid. Aged 31, Romario seemed even more complete than in his so called prime in 1994. His link up play was wiser and he had added a touch more physicality to his hold up play. The stage was seemingly set for the Brazilian to take La Liga by storm… again.
Alas it was not to be …as matters between him and Aragones came to a head. During training in front of televised cameras – a visibly irate Aragones demanded that the delinquent Romario ‘Look me in the face, look into my eyes’ and admit he had arranged an illicit fiesta at his hotel. As expected Romario refused to make eye contact with the ‘jerk’ and it would prove to be the final nail in the coffin of what was a car crash relationship. Just after three months of arriving, Romario was put on the plane back to Brazil to resume his stint with Flamengo.
RETURNS TO FLAMENGO
1997 Season
Romario picked up where he had left off and fired in 18 goals in 18 games in the Campeonato Carioca, earning himself the golden boot. Flamengo would finish 3rd in the league but there was a number of other trophies also up for grabs and Romario was eager to make his mark. He would go on to score 7 goals in 8 games in the Copa Do Brasil but once again Flamengo would fall short, finishing runners up to Gremio.
SWANSONG WITH THE SELECAO (1997)
LE TOURNOI
Keen to remind the world what an elite operator he could be in the yellow of the Selecao, Romario teamed up with Ronaldo, Brazil’s latest sensation in a series of friendlies and tournaments during 1997. First up was Le Tournoi. a friendly international football tournament, where Brazil would face England, hosts France, and Italy. After an inauspicious start against France, Ro-Ro came alive during the fixture against Italy – securing a 3-3 draw after initially being two down. The final fixture was against a strong English side with a three man defence. In a tight affair, Romario finally lost Southgate to poke the ball in the far corner… 1-0.
COPA AMERICA 1997
Next up was the Copa America and it would be was the first time Ro-Ro would be leading the line for Brazil with international honours at stake. The results were emphatic. Ronaldo scored six times, including a hat-trick against Chile , while Romario scored seven times, netting a hat-trick of his own against Mexico. That final, a 3-1 win, was slightly bittersweet for Romario, who wasn’t able to play due to injury. Edmundo, Romario’s replacement, scored, as did Ronaldo who netted his fifth goal of the tournament.
CONFEDERATIONS CUP 1997
Brazil headed to the Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia full of confidence. The reunited Ro-Ro navigated past the hosts in the first game, with Romario scoring twice, but drew a blank against the Socceroos’ in the next group game. Successive victories over the Mexicans and the Czechs, in which Romario scored three times, set up a rematch against Australia and a chance to make up for their earlier failure. In what was a staggering display of samba-rilliance Ronaldo and Romario scored hat-tricks.
LATE CAREER AND RETIREMENT
A SECOND CHANCE AT VALENCIA
1997/1998 Season
Whilst Romario was living the high life back in Rio, back at the Mestalla Luis Aragones was gone after a disastrous end to the season. Valencia appointed Jorge Valdano as his replacement and concluded the time was ripe to bring back Romario back. ‘The Philosopher’ was a man who was accustomed to bringing the best out of another enigmatic egocentric genius in the form of Maradona. It was expected that he would similarly draw the best out of Romario.
Romario returned with great desire and enthusiasm, excited at the prospect of playing under Valdano. He took this positivity into preseason and was in great form until he incurred a serious injury during a pre-match friendly. Things changed a lot from that moment, since Romario could no longer start the League with Valencia and had to travel to Brazil to recover from the injury.
In Romario's absence, Valencia lost the first three games and President Paco Roig lost his rag. He had remoulded the entire team in accordance with Valdano's wishes at great expense and the media were portraying him as a fool. Then there was the fateful fixture against Racing Santander which sealed Valdano's fate. Not only did Valencia lose yet again, but Valdano made the mistake of selecting more foreigners than permitted under La Liga regulations. The news of Valdano's dismissal reached Brazil and fell to Romario like a bomb. Valdano was never able to manage Romario in a competitive environment, nor carry his project to the end.
Francisco Roig then sought the services of the talented Claudio Ranieri to replace Valdano. Unfortunately for Romatrio, the Italian's football philosophy was the exact opposite of Valdano's. His working methods, his tactics, his mentality, were based on a strong and robust defense and a lethal counterattack. From the outset, Romario did not fit in Ranieri's plans. and mid-season, after many problems with the Italian coach, Romario was sold to Flamengo of Brazil.
LAST DANCE WITH FLAMENGO
1998 Season
With his eyes set on securing his spot in Brazil’s first team for the 1998 World Cup held in France, Romario quickly got up to speed with the pace of the Campeonato Carioca and scored 10 goals in 11 league games. Having seemingly secured his spot in the squad, Romario incurred a tournament ending injury during a game of "foot volleyball" on a Rio de Janeiro beach just before the squad left for France.
Despite Romario protesting that he would be fit to face Scotland in the opening match of the finals, team doctor, Lidio Toledo, confirmed that the injury was defying both time and treatment. It would be a month before Romario could train again, let alone play. To the disbelief of the nation, Mario Zagallo after much deliberation confirmed he was not willing to gamble on Romario's fitness and called up a defensive midfielder in the form of Emerson.
1999 Season
Keen to put the disappointment of missing out on the 1998 World Cup behind him, Romario enjoyed his best goalscoring season to date… scoring a phenomenal 46 goals in 54 games during the 1999 Brazilian season. Flamengo won the 1999 Copa Mercosur, the second-tier cup of South America and the second Campeonato Carioca of Romario’s career. Their main rivals were a strong Vasco De Gama outfit featuring the likes of Juninho Pernambucano and Edmundo.
In the national league Romario scored 12 goals in 19 games to help secure a mid table finish for Flamengo but was harshly sacked for going to a nightclub in the hours after a defeat to minnows Juventude that had dumped them out of the national championship.
RETURN TO VASCO
2000 Season
Despite long-harboured resentment from a segment of Vasco fans, Romário rejoined the club in 2000 on the premise he would be let go after the Club World Championship. He linked up again with Edmundo but by now their relationship had soured into open enmity. Nevertheless they forged a prolific partnership., with an early sign of the pairs potency being the infamous 5-1 Easter Sunday drubbing of Flamengo where Romario mocked his former club by initiating a chorus of "o chocolate da Páscoa" (i.e., Easter chocolate, after the Rio's football slang "chocolate" for a big win and as the game was played on Easter).
Romario would soon be forced to eat humble pie as Flamengo won the second stage of the Campeonato Carioca. For the second year in a row, the teams with the most fans in the city were face to face, fighting for the title of best in Rio. And, for the second year in a row, Flamengo earned the trophy. The team led by the club icon Carlinhos won the two matches 5-1 on aggregate thus successfully avenging the ‘Chocolate’ game. Revenge tasted sweet.
World Club Championship
The disappointment of the finishing runners up in the Campeonato Carioica did not linger for long as Vasco had bigger fish to fry. Edmundo and Romario led Vasco to the final of the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship, with Romário finishing as joint-top goalscorer with three goals. The most notable performance from the pair was a 3–1 defeat of European champions Manchester United at the Maracanã, where Romário scored twice and Edmundo added a third before half time. Their movement on and off the ball and the exceptional level of technical skill on display, in particular Edmundo’s first touch and turn for the third goal which was simply sensational…
Vasco won all three of their group games to qualify for the final and faced a Corinthians side who had squeezed Real Madrid out of the competition via goal difference. Romario’s desire to dedicate his career to the Brazilian league had been vindicated… was South American football really an inferior product?. The final was unfortunately a dull affair which failed to capture the attention of the masses - There were no goals in regulation time or extra time and it went to penalties. Romario slotted away his penalty but Edmundo fatally did not…Corinthians were the inaugural Club World Cup Champions.
Copa Mercosur and Brazilian Championship
Romário, despite the president’s word, was not let go after the competition. Controversially he signed a longer-term contract on the condition that the captain’s armband would be seized from Edmundo and given to him. As expected Edmundo plotted his escape. Despite such a set back, Romario continued his rich vein of form by playing key roles in the Copa Mercosur and Brazilian Championship.
In the Mercosur final Vasco faced Brazilian rivals Palmeiras from São Paulo. After splitting the first two matches, a decisive third took place in São Paulo. Palmeiras took a seemingly unsurmountable 3–0 lead before half-time. In the second half however, Vasco – inspired by Romario - mounted a stunning comeback scoring four goals including Romário's winner in stoppage time, which completed his hat-trick.
The decision to keep Romário was vindicated as he took Vasco to a historic Brazilian championship earning the golden boot along the way. In the final against Sao Caetano, a Romario equaliser. secured a 1-1 draw. The second match was suspended after an early pitch invasion and despite arguments that São Caetano should be declared champion, Vasco successfully petitioned the league for a third match. Vasco went on to win 3-1 with Romario scoring the third goal. He finished the season with an astonishing 56 goals from 71 games, receiving both the South American and Brazilian Footballer of the Year awards.
COMPETING FOR THE COPA LIBERTADORES
2001 Season
The following season, Vasco and Flamengo once again faced off in the final of the Campeonate Carioca. Flamengo were seeking their third consecutive regional title and Vasco wanted to prove they can rule the roost in their own backyard too. Unfortunately Romario picked up an injury and in his absence Flamengo sealed their 'Tri-Campeonato' by overturning a 2-1 first leg deficit with a 3-1 win in the second leg. Keen to make amends for his absence, Romario playing out of his skin in Vasco's defence of the National Championship, scoring 19 goals in 22 games but ultimately Vasco would languish in mid table.
In the Copa Libertadores, Romario scored 5 goals in 8 games, taking Vasco into the Quarter-Finals against Boca Juniors. With anticipation building for what would be a truly historic encounter, Romario picked up another untimely injury and just like in the Campeonato Carioica Final - his absence would prove fatal. Without Romario, Vasco simply had no weapons with which to hurt Boca and were thoroughly outplayed. In particular they failed to get to grips with a budding Juan Roman Riquelme who pulled the strings in midfield as Boca triumphed 4-0 on aggregate.
MISSING OUT ON WORLD CUP GLORY
2002 Season
With the 2002 World Cup 6 months away, and entering his 36th year, Romario was still very much in contention for the chance to repeat his 1994 triumph. Whilst he was enjoying his time on the pitch, he was in dispute with Vasco da Gama over unpaid salary. Once again he ruffled feathers by openly touting for a return to arch rivals Flamengo. With no move forthcoming, Romario managed to score 26 goals in 25 games though due to fitness issues he played an increasingly bit part role in the disappointing regional league campaign in which he only featured in 5 games albeit scoring 8 goals.
Prior to the 2002 season, Romário pulled out of the 2001 Copa América citing the need for an eye operation. Yet days later he was caught playing friendlies for Vasco. Romario going AWOL nearly cost Scolari his job as Brazil stumbled to a quarter-final exit. Incensed senior players in the Brazilian set up demanded that Scolari exclude the veteran from the 2002 World Cup Squad. They need not have bothered as Scolari had his own axe to grind. After it was announced that Romario would not be part of the 2002 World Cup Squad, a repentant Romario was truly devastated but in truth, he had no one to blame when he could only watch on as Brazil lifted their fifth trophy.
MOVING ON WITH FLUMINENSE
After the heartbreak of missing out on the World Cup, Romario decided it was time for a new chapter in his life and made the move to Fluminense midway through the Brazilian season. They were the reigning Campeonato Carioca champions and in Romario they saw someone who could help them mount a series challenge for the National Championship. He was seduced by their offer of special privileges which included being allowed his own physiotherapist, travel separately for away games and permitted to arrive only one hour before kick-off. In return, Romario led Fluminense to the semi-finals of the Brazilian championships, scoring 16 goals in the process.
LUCRATIVE MOVE TO QATAR
2002/2003 Season
He then cut short his stint at Fluminense to make the lucrative move to Qatar where he spent three months, was paid $1.2 million, played three games and failed to score a goal. Romario was initially given a rousing reception when he arrived in Qatar at the end of February but his problems began when he was blocked from playing in the Asian Champions League because he had not been registered in time. He then fell out with the team coach who wanted Romario to become more involved with the build up and not just come alive in the opposition's penalty area.
FAREWELL TO FLU
2003 Season
Regretting his cursed move to Qatar, Romario swiftly returned to Fluminense who found themselves 12th in the 24-team Brazilian championship and a quarter of the way in the competition. Romario’s goals would prove key in helping Fluminense stay up in what was the first relegation battle of Romario’s career. Despite his potency in goal remaining intact, the general standard of Romario’s performances attracted criticism and he would assault charges for attacking a fan who threw six live chickens on the field during practice.
2004 Season
In the final season of his Fluminense stint, Romario was to be reunited with Edmundo. The pair were more willing to put aside previous misdemeanours to reclaim former glories. In the first stage of the Campeonato Carioca, the Taca Guanabara, in front of a full house at the Maracanã… Flamengo's won a thrilling encounter against Fluminense in the final. Not perturbed by that defeat, Fluminense also made the final of the Taca Rio…but a Romario penalty was not enough to stave off a 2-1 defeat to Vasco and ‘Flu’ had missed the chance to compete for the regional title.
In the latter half of the season, Romario due to fitness woes had only participated in 13 Brazilian Championship games and repeatedly clashed with his coaches. Whilst Fluminense nevertheless performed better than the previous season, finishing within the top 10... Romario was once again attracting the ire of the fans, who considered him as a 'mercenary' and the end was nigh. He was sacked in October.
VETERAN RETURNS TO VASCO
2005 Season
With the likes of Pele writing him off and shade being thrown at him from a variety of media sources for still forlornly hunting for his 1000th goal… Romario had no club to play for. Romário then went back once again to play for the team he started at, Vasco da Gama. In 2005, at 39 years of age, Romário scored 22 goals in the Brazilian Championship, making him the league's top goalscorer for the third time. Despite his contribution, Vasco would languish in midtable.
2006 Season
After a brief contribution to Vasco's Campeonate Carioca campaign, Romário joined Miami FC along with former 1994 FIFA World Cup teammate Zinho. He helped Miami FC reach their first ever USL-1 Playoffs, scoring 19 league goals in 25 appearances for the team. club Adelaide United FC for a 5-game guest stint. During his final game on 15 December 2006 he finally scored a goal for Adelaide to end what many considered to be a disappointing spell with the club.
2007 Season
In January 2007 he signed a new deal with Vasco da Gama scoring 15 goals in 19 games before proceeding to retire. He briefly came out of retirement play for America from Rio de Janeiro. He stated that he would play for the club to fulfill his father's wishes.
POST RETIREMENT
On 19 February 2014, Romário announced that he would run for the Brazilian senate in the 2014 general election, and the decision was officially confirmed in June. On 5 October, Romario was elected to the Brazilian senate with the most votes received ever by a candidate representing the state of Rio de Janeiro.
In June 2017, Romário left the PSB and joined Podemos, becoming president of the party in the State of Rio de Janeiro. In March 2018, Romário announced he is to run for governor of Rio de Janeiro in the Brazilian general election and would stand as a candidate for the centrist Podemos party. Romário finished in fourth place, with 8.6% of valid votes.
TACTICAL ANALYSIS
Small, stocky and fearless, Romario was a hybrid of Gerd Muller and Maradona in terms of his style of play. He possessed the German's dead-eyed finishing and penalty box nous and yet he could produce audacious moments of skill and close control which the Argentine was famed for. When he was in the mood, he was simply one of the most devastatingly effective footballers of all time in the final third.
Tactically whilst Romario is often cited as a 'Poacher' in truth he was a lot more complete and gave more to the teams he played for than he is given credit. He was the ideal modern day forward, moving away from the central defenders to drop deep and link up play.. or turn with the ball and run at them. His passing and assist making was incredibly underrated. He not only possessed wonderful vision but had the feel and technical ability to execute dangerous through balls for support forwards to run on to and that is what made him such a perfect striker for a manager like Cruyff.
Whilst he was renowned as a 'big match' footballer who lived for the 'big moments'... Romario could be marked out of the game on the biggest stages. Maldini and Baresi proved that Romario was not invincible and his kryptonite was defenders who had the intelligence and nimbleness to handle his unbelievable changes of direction. Unlike Maradona, who made himself stronger and harder to beat.. Romario never quite possessed the discipline to want to improve. It was a great shame because the Italians had to be at their absolute best just to keep up with him and more effort on his part could have made him arguably the most feared striker of all time - period.
IN HIS OWN WORDS...
When I sleep too much I don't score. That's the reason I like to go out a lot.
I'll never forget my friends and where I came from.
Will I become a coach in the future? No way. I'd never be able to put up with someone like me
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BACKGROUND
R omário de Souza was born on 29th January 1966 in Jacarezinho, the second largest favela of Rio de Janeiro… the eternal carnival city. His parents Edevair de Souza Faria and Manuela ladislau Faria struggled financially but that did not stop the young Romario having lofty visions of emulating Emerson Fittipaldi to become Brazil’s next F1 World Champion. Fortunately for Ayrton Senna and the beautiful game, Romário’s father successfully encouraged ‘Baixinho’ (Shorty) to pursue the dream of becoming a professional footballer instead.Romario’s budding skills were honed through endless hours spent playing in the anarchic and unforgiving 25-a-side street matches in his neighbourhood. Even in these massed games it was clear that the diminutive youngster was a cut above. Anticipating his own meteoric rise in the game, Romario would practice signing his name in preparation for the many signatures he would have to sign in the future.
Soon it was time to abandon the streets and master grass. Romario initally played for the local youth team set up by his father – ‘Estelinha da Vila da Penha (The Little Stars). It afforded Romario the opportunity to cultivate his 11 aside game and by the age of 13, he was offered a trial for the local football club, Olaria FC, a small professional outfit operating in the shade of Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama and Botafogo.
Romario duly impressed and was offered a contract by the club’s management who were astonished by the youngster’s freakish ability to leave larger powerful defenders looking foolish. Within a year at Olaria, he began drawing attention from the likes of Vasco de Gama. Initial concerns about his physical stature prevented Vasco coaches from pulling the trigger but after ‘Baixinho’ scored four past their youth side, these fears were immediately dispelled.
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MAKES VASCO DEBUT IN 1985
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STAR AT 1988 OLYMPICS
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WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR 1994
EARLY CAREER
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EARLY CAREER
BREAKING THROUGH AT VASCO (1985-1988)
1985 Season
After cementing his burgeoning reputation in the Vasco youth system, Romario was selected for Brazil’s under-20 side. He proceeded to score 11 goals in 11 games thus earning himself a trip to Moscow for the 1985 World Youth Championships. It was here where the first hint of Romario’s destructive temperament rose to the surface… sent home before a ball was even struck after being caught urinating off the balcony of the team hotel.
Such ignominy would have derailed the career of many a footballer but Romario barely looked back as he exploded into life for the Vasco De Gama first team. Forging a lethal strike force with club legend Roberto Dinamite – considered Zico’s greatest rival – together they drove the club to second in the Campeonato Carioca – Rio’s state league, behind Fluminense.
1986 Season
The following season Romario scored 20 goals in 25 games becoming the Campeonato Carioca ‘s top goalscorer but once again Vasco would finish second, behind a star-studded Flamengo side which contained the likes of Zico, Socrates, Aldair and fellow rising star Bebeto. In the tougher Brazilian national league fixtures, which due to federational disputes would take place near the end of the year, Romario managed an admirable 9 goals in 23 appearances
1987 Season
The 1987 edition of the Campeonato Carioca kicked off on February 8, 1987 with the Rio-based media keen fuel the fire between Vasco’s Romario and Flamengo’s Bebeto. It would ultimately be Romário and Vasco who took the local bragging rights, beating Flamengo to the 1987 Campeonato Carioca with Romario taking the plaudits as the golden boot winner again.
With Romario presenting an irrepressible case for a reprieve, the Selecao came calling again in 1987 and handed him a debut against the Republic of Ireland in a friendly. He adapted immediately to international football, scoring four goals in his first six appearances including a goal for Brazil during the 1987 Copa America as a substitute versus Venezuela. Romario had now firmly established himself as Careca’s heir apparent.
1988 Season
In 1988, Romario once again proved pivotal in helping Vasco retain the title despite a spirited effort by Flamengo and Bebeto (who would take the golden boot with his 17 goals to Romario’s 16). In the first leg of title decider, Romario flicked the ball over the on-rushing keeper to score an iconic winner in a pulsating encounter. A devastated Flamengo simply lacked the resolve to overturn the 2-1 deficit in the return leg. With another state championship sewn up, there was the small matter of the Olympics to attend to… where he would eventually line up next to arch-rival Bebeto…
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EARLY CAREER
1988 OLYMPICS
Brazil opened their Olympic campaign with a thumping 4-0 victory over Nigeria. Romario initially started up front with Careca but only truly came alive with Bebeto’s arrival – scoring a brace in the last quarter of the game. The next fixture was against the gritty Australians where Romario beat three players to open the scoring and proceeded to complete a stunning hat-trick.
In the Quarter-Finals, Brazil would face arch-rivals Argentina. In a narrow 1-0 win, Romario failed to shine but in the semi final against Germany, he made up for it with the equalising goal to send the game to extra time. With no goal to break the deadlock and the game going to penalties, Romario scored what would effectively be the winning penalty of the shootout.
In the final against Russia, Romario scored the opener, sneaking in at the far post from a corner… a typically Muller Esque strike. Unfortunately haphazard defending by the Brazilians let the Soviets back into the game and in extra time, after failing to deal with yet another long ball, Savichev and rounded the keeper to earn the gold medal for Russia. Despite only obtaining a silver medal, Romário’s Olympic performances firmly established his reputation beyond the shores of the Copacabana. It was time to head to Europe.
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EARLY CAREER
PSV EINDHOVEN (1988 – 1993)
1988/1989 Season
In the 1980’s PSV, at the behest of their primary benefactors Philips, adopted a policy of signing players with flair and implemented a scouting system which enabled them to keep tabs on the hottest Latin talent. Philips believed that attracting silky South American superstars would lead to worldwide exposure for their brand but they simply lacked the leverage to compete for the likes of Maradona and Zico, who came to Europe as established international icons.
Despite their far-reaching ambitions it was attracting talents closer to home in the form of Ruud Gullit and Guus Hiddink that PSV began to make waves not just domestically but on the continent, culminating in their historic treble in 1988. Keen to strike while the iron was hot and take advantage of their new-found leverage, Philips decided to find themselves a young Latin prodigy who had the capacity to explode and become a household name.
Improving the attack of a treble winning side that had scored 117 league goals in a single campaign was always going to prove impossible from a statistical perspective. Nevertheless, Romario adapted well to playing in the Eredivisie scoring a respectable 26 goals in 34 games, securing another league title for PSV. He also helped secure a second trophy with the opening goal of the KNVB Cup final in a 4-1 win against FC Groningen.
The litmus test for Romario was the European Cup… could he help PSV emulate Ajax of the 1970’s and win back to back continental titles? Having not been utilised for most the European campaign, Romario was finally unleashed in the Quarter-Finals… against Real Madrid. Reinforcing his growing reputation as the Brazilian Gerd Muller, Romario fearlessly produced clinical finishes in both legs yet still ended on the losing side as PSV went out 3-2 on aggregate.
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EARLY CAREER
COPA AMERICA 1989
Going into the 1989 Copa America, Brazilian football was facing an identity crisis. The heartbreak of the 1982 World Cup was still lingering in the memory and the attempt to modernise the set up with the appointment of Sebastião Lazaroni, a 3x Rio champion with Flamengo and Vasco was not generating results. A tragic tour to Europe prior to the Copa yielded three defeats to Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland, and a goalless draw with Milan. The Selecao faithful were baying for blood.
First Group Stage
The tournament kicked off in Bahai, with a routine 3-1 win against Venezuela which was marred by ugly scenes of so-called Brazilian fans booing their own team in retribution for the dropping of local idol Charles Baiano, A few days later at the same venue, Renato Gaucho was egged by a ‘fan’ moments before the fixture against Peru. With tensions between the fans and the players at boiling point, a beleaguered Brazil could only manage a laborious draw.and followed it up with another listless performance against Columbia.
At this stage the players too were at loggerheads. Romario and Bebeto who had been dropped for the game against Columbia, were barely on speaking terms with the simmering rivalry they endured at club level seeping into their ability to combine on the pitch. Eventually Romario blinked first. Sensing that the rivalry was simply getting in the way of his desire to succeed with the national team, he sought to thaw the ice with Bebeto. Romario’s offering of an olive branch was duly accepted by Bebeto and thus the stage was set for the duo to repeat their heroics from the 1988 Olympics.
The first hurdle they had to clear was the decisive game against Paraguay. 76,800 fans flocked to Arruda and witnessed a rejuvenated Selecao side outplay a rugged Paraguayan outfit, securing a 2-0 win and qualification into the next round. At the end of the game, a fan running across the field with the Brazilian flag marked the reconciliation with the crowd. Their next fixture promised to prove a sterner test… it was against reigning World Cup champions… Diego Maradona’s Argentina.
Second Group Stage
In front of 100,000 fans in attendance at a packed Estádio do Maracanã, Bebeto and Romario took Argentina to the cleaners, grabbing a goal each and generally leaving the Argentine back-line at sixes and sevens. Maradona not usually renowned for his sportsmanship commented that Bebeto’s goal was one of the most beautiful volleys he had ever seen. Their next fixture was a rematch against Paraguay where once again the duo proved irresistable with Romario grabbing a brace in a 3-0 demolition.
In the final fixture, Brazil faced Uruguay with both teams on level points and both in with a shout of lifting the trophy. 150,000 spectators flooded the Estádio do Maracanã for what would prove to be a seminal fixture. The match itself proved to be a high-stakes game of chess with space at an absolute premium. Cue Romario just after the interval, suddenly finding himself in between two gargantuan defenders and masterfully heading home what would prove to be the winner. Pandemonium, ecstasy, delirium – it was as if the ghosts of 1950 had been exhumed there and then. Brazil won their fourth Copa América, ended a 19-year streak without official titles and their first Copa America title since 1949.
THE PATH TO ITALIA 90
1989/1990 Season
The following season Romario blazed a trail of destruction as he struck a phenomenal 31 goals in 27 games, including a memorable hat-trick against Steaua Bucharest in the European Cup which sparked comparisons with Diego Maradona. Unfortunately Romario would pick up a serious ankle injury shortly after his mesmerising display which would ultimately derail PSV’s season; finishing a point behind Ajax in the league and knocked out of Europe by Bayern Munich, with only the KNVB Cup for consolation.
1990 World Cup
Despite his best efforts to get fit for the 1990 World Cup, Romario simply lacked the physical condition to be risked as a starter in Brazil’s opening fixtures. It was only after Brazil secured passage to the Round of 16 that Romario was given 65 minutes before being hauled off for his own good. Such was the concern about his fitness, Romario failed to even make the bench for what would prove to be a fatal fixture against arch rivals Argentina.
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THE BOBBY ROBSON YEARS
1990/1991 Season
PSV sought a manager capable of instilling discipline into an increasingly fractious squad and Romario in particular. Whilst his performances had been nothing short of scintillating under Hiddink, there was persistent talk of his penchant for the nightlife. His lack of work ethic was cited as the cause of his inability to last the distance the previous campaign. Sir Bobby Robson was duly appointed as Hiddink’s replacement – his exceptional man-management was considered to be the key to winning the Brazilian over.
In truth – very shortly into his tenure – an exasperated Robson gave up trying to reign in Romario’s animalistic instincts and yet was equally incapable of leaving the Brazilian out of the side such was his sheer potency in front of goal. 25 goals in 25 league games helped secure the Eredivisie title for PSV and re-establish their domestic dominance. In Europe it was a different story. Although PSV had qualified for the ECWC they failed to take it seriously…exiting to French minnows Montpellier.
1991/1992 Season
Romario did not make the Brazilian squad for the 1991 Copa America finals with Falcao, in his brief tenure as head coach, deciding to leave him out on the basis of ill-discipline. Domestically, it would prove to be another injury plagued season as Romario suffered a broken leg early into the campaign. Despite his lengthy absence, PSV cantered to another league victory but in Europe, his absence would prove costly. PSV would go out in the second round of the European Cup to Anderlecht. Another embarassing failure on the continent proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Bobby Robson’s spell in charge.
PARTING FROM PSV
1992/1993 Season
In what would prove to be Romario’s final season with PSV, Romario scored 32 goals in 39 games but would end the season trophy less as PSV finished second in the league behind Feyenoord, went out in the quarters in the KNVB Cup and failed to qualify from the inaugural group stage of the newly revamped Champions League (the successor to the European Cup). Despite these disappointments, from an individual perspective Romario had hit new heights with 7 goals in 9 CL Fixtures.
A hat-trick against AEK Athens in the Second Round particularly caught the eye with a third goal which was the personification of ‘Joga Bonito’ itself – consecutive flamboyant flicks over impending traffic sealed with an assured finish in the midst of utter pandemonium. In the Group Stage, Romario scored a brace against Porto (including a sumptuous free-kick) and a brilliantly worked turn and shot in one flowing movement against the mighty AC Milan. However with results still not forthcoming, Romario ran out of steam as PSV finished bottom of the group.
Banished by Brazil
In 1992, during Romário’s successful season at PSV Eindhoven, he was called up to the national team for a friendly match against Germany on 16 December 1992 in Porto Alegre – Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira left Romário as a reserve, after which he expressed his dissatisfaction, saying he would not have come over from Netherlands if he had known he was not going to play. These declarations caused Parreira to ban Romário from the Brazilian team.
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PEAK PHASE
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PEAK PHASE
FC BARCELONA (1993-1995)
Johann Cruyff was a man on a mission after Barcelona’s failure to defend their European Cup title. Domestically, they had swept all before them with back to back La Liga titles but in truth a solitary continental triumph was hardly going to trouble the history books. Cruyff knew that in order to build a ‘Dream Team’ like that of Ajax of the 70’s, … he needed to up the flair quotient, and secure multiple Champions Leagues.
For Cruyff it was a no brainer to bring Romario, the leading scorer of the 1992/1993 Champions League with an exceptional goals to games career ratio. He promised goals and entertainment in equal measure.. A £10.8 million transfer fee was duly agreed with PSV and it was time for the Camp Nou to provide a stage befitting the greatest Brazilian forward since the great Pele.
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1993/1994 Season
The 1993/1994 season would prove to be Romario’s magnum opus as a footballer…but upon closer inspection whilst Romario was in electrifying form in La Liga, in the Champions League – he only scored 2 goals in 8 games. This was partly due to the three foreigners rule which prevented Stoichkov, Laudrup and Romario lining up together thus depriving Romario of the service he was accustomed to domestically. Despite Romario’s lacklustre individual contribution, such was the fear he evoked in opposition defences that he effectively drew attention away from Stoichkov who fired Barcelona into the final with 7 goals in 8 games.
1994 Champions League Final
Going into the 1994 Champions League Final as firm favourites, Barcelona fancied their chances of lifting their second ‘Big Ears’ and secure their place in the annals of history. Milan’s preparations were in disarray: Marco van Basten was still out with a long-term injury, Gianluigi Lentini the world’s most expensive footballer was also injured and iconic defensive duo Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta were suspended. Furthermore due to the three-foreigners rule Fabio Capello was forced to leave out Florin Răducioiu, Jean-Pierre Papin and Brian Laudrup.
Barcelona in comparison had it good though they would be forced to play without Michael Laudrup who Cruyff considered dispensable compared to Romario, Stoichkov and Koeman. With all their selection issues, Milan decided to play Paulo Maldini at centre back. Despite his inexperience as a central defender, Maldini possessed a fine footballing brain and the perfect blend of agility, speed and aggression to neuter the Brazilian’s unique threat. He also had featured at centre back against Romario when the Brazilian featured for PSV… keeping a clean sheet.
As the game got underway it became quickly apparent that the loss of Michael Laudrup would prove fatal. Barcelona enjoyed a lot of sterile possession in their own half with Guardiola unable to thread the ball to the forwards due to the dominating presence of Marcel Desailly who was a human shield in front of the Milan defence. If the ball did ever find Romario he was hounded out of possession and not permitted any breathing space in and around the box… Maldini was proving to be an incredibly difficult man-marker to shake off. His only source of support was Stoichkov who also found it difficult to penetrate the deep-set Milanese defence.
Whilst Barcelona were going round in circles, Milan were picking them off at will… 2-0 up at half time through a Daniel Massaro brace. After the break, Milan could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas but Fabio Capello was a hard task master who was aware that 2-1 is the most dangerous score in football. Urging his side to stay alive for any counter attacking opportunities, on the 47th minute Savicevic nicked the ball off a flailing Nadal and proceeded to lob the keeper from 20 yards at an acute angle… putting the game out of reach of Barcelona. Desailly would secure a fourth to compound a night of misery for Romario and Barcelona.
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PEAK PHASE
1994 WORLD CUP
Brazil played the first seven matches of the 1994 World Cup qualification without Romário, and suffered their first loss ever in World Cup qualifying against Bolivia. His exclusion provoked a wave of outrage, with journalists and fans calling for his return to the team. Parreira the Brazilian coach relented and recalled Romário for the do or die game against Uruguay at the Maracanã Stadium. Back in his beloved number 11 jersey, prior to the game Romário stated: “I already know what is going to happen: I’m going to finish Uruguay”. Brazil won 2–0, with Romário scoring both goals, and qualified for the World Cup.
Group Stage
Brazil opened their tournament against a weak Russian side which lacked the resolve of the former USSR. Early into the game, Romario confused his marker at the far post from a corner and gently stabbed the ball with the outside of his foot to score. He then proceeded to win a penalty after being clumsily felled at the end of a mazy run thus sealing a 2-0 win. Brazil then faced the dark horses of Italia 90, Cameroon. Once again Romario set the ball rolling, running on to a Dunga pass and calmly rolling it under the keeper. Brazil would eventually saunter to a 3-0 win. Their final fixture was against Sweden where Brazil found themselves trailing after a remarkable goal by Kennett Andersson. Parity was eventually restored when Romario ran at the heart of the Swedish defence before firing a fatal toe poke at the far corner just as he entered the box… 1-1.
Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals
In the Round of 16, Brazil faced a well-drilled USA who kept the Selecao at bay until the 72nd minute,, when Romario drove at the Americans before slyly feeding in Bebeto to stroke home the winner. In the Quarter-Finals, Brazil faced the Netherlands who in Dennis Bergkamp possessed a magician in his physical prime – a feared rival of Romario’s back in the early 90’s.
After a cagey first half, Brazil exploded into life in the 53rd minute when Bebeto drifted wide and drilled a pass across the box for Romario to side foot home. Moments later, the roles were reversed as Romario turned provider for Bebeto who rounded the keeper to make it 2-0. Just when the semi’s seemed in sight, the tables dramatically turned with the Dutch fighting back via goals from Bergkamp and WInter. The game was heading to extra time before an audacious long range free-kick from Branco finally confirmed victory.
Semi-Finals
In the Semi’s, Brazil would face a rematch against the stubborn Swedes. With a quarter of the game gone, Romario had the chance to emulate Maradona’s goal v Belgium, slaloming and skipping his way through a series of statuesque Swedes, leaving them in his wake. With the goal gaping in front of him, Romario inexplicably fired a weak effort directly at Patrick Andersson instead of hammering it either side of him. If there was any consolation, Mazinho’s follow up effort was even worse and he was subbed off at half time. Brazil continued to produce countless chances but an unusually prolifgate Romario was simply not putting them away. With the clock ticking down, Brazil were beginning to lose hope… before Romario lifted spirits by heading home the winner on the 80th minute.
The Final
The Final was a replay of the 1970 World Cup Final…Brazil vs Italy. For Brazilians it was a particularly poignant encounter, a chance to demonstrate that Brazilian football had evolved from the naivete of the 80’s and had developed a new cynical edge. In order to cope with the lethal threat of Romario, Italy in desperation brought back their skipper Franco Baresi who had sustained an injury to his meniscus in Italy’s second group match and paired him with the agile Maldini at centre back. The Italian pair put in a stellar showing, thwarting Romario and preventing him with any real sight of goal. Romario relied on the clumsiness of larger defenders to wrong foot them but in Baresi and Maldini he had met his match – both were tremendously mobile and intelligent.
With both teams visibly wilting in the searing heat, the match laboured to a goalless draw and it would be decided by a dreaded penalty shoot-out. Despite the frustration of not having scored in open play, Romario kept his cool and converted Brazil’s second penalty in the shoot-out, Branco and Dunga also converted their penalties but for the Italians, Massaro and then Baggio would fatefully miss. The ghosts of 1982 could be lain to rest… Brazil were World Champions once again. Romário was duly awarded the World Cup Golden Ball and named in the World Cup All-Star Team.
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PEAK PHASE
SATURATED BY PRAISE AND PRIZES
1994/1995 Season
Baixinho was now the hottest property in world football and soon to be named the FIFA World Player of the year. Having hit such dizzying heights, the only way was down. Whilst he was never particularly renowned for his professionalism, it took a turn for the worse after the 1994 World Cup. Like many Brazilian footballers, winning the World Cup represented the pinnacle for Romario. He had matched the likes of Pele and Garrincha and increasingly lacked the motivation for the cut and thrust of club football.
A harrowing 5-0 defeat to Real Madrid sent alarm bells ringing in Catalunya and spurred Cruyff to attack both Romario and Stoichkov in the media… hinting that their egos were at the heart of Barcelona’s rapid decline. “Saturated by praise and prizes” muttered Cruyff, not wanting to pull any punches. What Cruyff failed to confess was the key role that Michael Laudrup had played in the encounter… he was now in the white shirt of Real Madrid, having not forgiven the Dutchman for failing to play him in the Champions League final against Milan. Barcelona lacked their heartbeat.
Whilst rumour and conjecture surrounded Romario and his future at the club, Romario proved that when engaged, he was still capable of ruining Europe’s leading defences at will… with his performances against Manchester United sending shockwaves through English football. The ease with which he found space and made mugs of the likes of Steve Bruce, made it even more frustrating that the leading player in world football was more concerned with travelling to Brazil for parties in Rio rather than embellishing his legacy at Barca.
Romario would eventually only score 4 goals in 13 La Liga games as negotiations for an improved contract broke down in the winter of 1994. The transfer tattle became deafening once it transpired Romario had met Flamengo chairman Kleber Leite while back in Brazil on holiday over the new year and had stayed longer than agreed. Cruyff wanted to wash his hands of Romario by this stage and when a £4,000,000 offer was received from Flamengo, it was accepted without a moment’s hesitation.
In hindsight it seems crazy that the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year would leave one of the leading clubs in the game to head back to the Brazilian league but in many ways it provided an insight as to what made him such an effective forward. He was an enigma, extremely competitive yet someone who could detach himself from the seriousness of the game… thus able to focus under pressure yet treat it like a mere kickabout on the sandy beaches of the Copacabana. The danger was that at any stage this finely tuned balance could tip over the edge and he just wouldn’t give a fuck.
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Amoros was deployed on either flank. Due to his versatility he was able to combine with the midfield as well as provide width in a very narrow French set up.
PEAK PHASE
FLOURISHING AT FLAMENGO
1995 Season
Flamengo were Vasco De Gama’s big rival in the 80’s – so why did Romario go there? Well teams such as Palmeiras based in Sao Paulo simply were not considered as Romario desired a return to Rio de Janeiro. Vasco De Gama were unable to put together a viable financial package and neither could Flamengo in truth, but in Leite they had a man with a silver tongue. The Flamengo chairman successfully convinced commercial heavyweights such as Banco Real, BarraShopping, Brahma and Umbro to cough up the money on the premise that Romario would be worth his weight in gold in terms of advertising revenue.
Back home in Rio, Romario seemed to rediscover his shooting boots, striking 26 goals in 21 regional league games. His potency in front of goal ensured that Flamengo kept up with a resurgent Fluminense in a pulsating race for the Campeonato Carioca. In a nail-biting showdown in front of 112,000 screaming fans at the Maracana… Flamengo came back from 2-0 down courtesy of Romario’s inspiration only to be fatally wounded by Renato Gaucho’s last ditch ‘belly winner’.
1996 Season
The following season Romario scored 19 in 26 games as Flamengo stormed to the Campeonato Carioca title. Despite Flamengo’s success, they had a fluctuating squad with numerous arrivals in and out the door, Romario found himself at times playing with Bebeto at one stage and Edmundo another. Romario had begged for the arrival of Edmundo and whilst their partnership did not set the world alight the first time round, they were responsible for inciting one of the biggest on-field brawls in South American history…
During Flamengo’s Supercopa Libertadores game against Vélez Sársfield of Argentina, Edmundo would receive an elbow to the face after trying to outfox Mazola. The thuggish Mazola did not take too kindly to Edmundo’s retaliatory slap and proceeded to finish the Brazilian off once and for all… poleaxing him with a monstrous roundhouse punch. Keen to avenge his fallen partner, Romario pulled off a Bruce Lee-esque kung fu kick on the giant Mazola who was triple his size… Romario had many flaws but no one could fault his loyalty or courage in the face of adversity.
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Amoros was deployed on either flank. Due to his versatility he was able to combine with the midfield as well as provide width in a very narrow French set up.
PEAK PHASE
RETURNS TO SPANISH FOOTBALL WITH VALENCIA
1996/1997 Season
Despite all the adulation and lifestyle benefits Romario had become accustomed to since his return to Brazil, the competitive beast within him hankered after a starring role at a big European giant. With the likes of Milan, Madrid, Manchester United not showing any interest… Romario secured a transfer to up and coming Valencia who under strict disciplinarian Luis Aragones had finished 2nd in the league behind Radomir Antic’s Atletico Madrid. Despite his advancing years, Romario thought he could be the final piece of the jigsaw of Aragones’ well-built jigsaw and be an upgrade to the departing Mijatovic.
Unfortunately for Romario, behind the scenes Aragones did not care too much for Romario’s lackadaisical attitude to training and his unwillingness to work for the team outside of the final third. From the outset, he made the point of dropping Romario for the UEFA Cup glamour tie against Bayern Munich but it was a grave error of judgement and from that moment on he had lost the trust of his star striker.
In spite of his fractious relationship with Aragones, Romario started the season in fine fettle, scoring 4 goals in 5 games including a stupendous volley from 30 yards against the reigning champions Atletico Madrid. Aged 31, Romario seemed even more complete than in his so called prime in 1994. His link up play was wiser and he had added a touch more physicality to his hold up play. The stage was seemingly set for the Brazilian to take La Liga by storm… again.
Alas it was not to be …as matters between him and Aragones came to a head. During training in front of televised cameras – a visibly irate Aragones demanded that the delinquent Romario ‘Look me in the face, look into my eyes’ and admit he had arranged an illicit fiesta at his hotel. As expected Romario refused to make eye contact with the ‘jerk’ and it would prove to be the final nail in the coffin of what was a car crash relationship. Just after three months of arriving, Romario was put on the plane back to Brazil to resume his stint with Flamengo.
RETURNS TO FLAMENGO
1997 Season
Romario picked up where he had left off and fired in 18 goals in 18 games in the Campeonato Carioca, earning himself the golden boot. Flamengo would finish 3rd in the league but there was a number of other trophies also up for grabs and Romario was eager to make his mark. He would go on to score 7 goals in 8 games in the Copa Do Brasil but once again Flamengo would fall short, finishing runners up to Gremio.
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Amoros was deployed on either flank. Due to his versatility he was able to combine with the midfield as well as provide width in a very narrow French set up.
PEAK PHASE
SWANSONG WITH THE SELECAO (1997)
LE TOURNOI
Keen to remind the world what an elite operator he could be in the yellow of the Selecao, Romario teamed up with Ronaldo, Brazil’s latest sensation in a series of friendlies and tournaments during 1997. First up was Le Tournoi. a friendly international football tournament, where Brazil would face England, hosts France, and Italy. After an inauspicious start against France, Ro-Ro came alive during the fixture against Italy – securing a 3-3 draw after initially being two down. The final fixture was against a strong English side with a three man defence. In a tight affair, Romario finally lost Southgate to poke the ball in the far corner… 1-0.
COPA AMERICA 1997
Next up was the Copa America and it would be was the first time Ro-Ro would be leading the line for Brazil with international honours at stake. The results were emphatic. Ronaldo scored six times, including a hat-trick against Chile , while Romario scored seven times, netting a hat-trick of his own against Mexico. That final, a 3-1 win, was slightly bittersweet for Romario, who wasn’t able to play due to injury. Edmundo, Romario’s replacement, scored, as did Ronaldo who netted his fifth goal of the tournament.
CONFEDERATIONS CUP 1997
Brazil headed to the Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia full of confidence. The reunited Ro-Ro navigated past the hosts in the first game, with Romario scoring twice, but drew a blank against the Socceroos’ in the next group game. Successive victories over the Mexicans and the Czechs, in which Romario scored three times, set up a rematch against Australia and a chance to make up for their earlier failure. In what was a staggering display of samba-rilliance Ronaldo and Romario scored hat-tricks.
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LATE CAREER AND RETIREMENT
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Amoros was deployed on either flank. Due to his versatility he was able to combine with the midfield as well as provide width in a very narrow French set up.
LATER CAREER AND RETIREMENT
A SECOND CHANCE AT VALENCIA
1997/1998 Season
Whilst Romario was living the high life back in Rio, back at the Mestalla Luis Aragones was gone after a disastrous end to the season. Valencia appointed Jorge Valdano as his replacement and concluded the time was ripe to bring back Romario back. ‘The Philosopher’ was a man who was accustomed to bringing the best out of another enigmatic egocentric genius in the form of Maradona. It was expected that he would similarly draw the best out of Romario.
Romario returned with great desire and enthusiasm, excited at the prospect of playing under Valdano. He took this positivity into preseason and was in great form until he incurred a serious injury during a pre-match friendly. Things changed a lot from that moment, since Romario could no longer start the League with Valencia and had to travel to Brazil to recover from the injury.
In Romario’s absence, Valencia lost the first three games and President Paco Roig lost his rag. He had remoulded the entire team in accordance with Valdano’s wishes at great expense and the media were portraying him as a fool. Then there was the fateful fixture against Racing Santander which sealed Valdano’s fate. Not only did Valencia lose yet again, but Valdano made the mistake of selecting more foreigners than permitted under La Liga regulations. The news of Valdano’s dismissal reached Brazil and fell to Romario like a bomb. Valdano was never able to manage Romario in a competitive environment, nor carry his project to the end.
Francisco Roig then sought the services of the talented Claudio Ranieri to replace Valdano. Unfortunately for Romatrio, the Italian’s football philosophy was the exact opposite of Valdano’s. His working methods, his tactics, his mentality, were based on a strong and robust defense and a lethal counterattack. From the outset, Romario did not fit in Ranieri’s plans. and mid-season, after many problems with the Italian coach, Romario was sold to Flamengo of Brazil.
LAST DANCE WITH FLAMENGO
1998 Season
With his eyes set on securing his spot in Brazil’s first team for the 1998 World Cup held in France, Romario quickly got up to speed with the pace of the Campeonato Carioca and scored 10 goals in 11 league games. Having seemingly secured his spot in the squad, Romario incurred a tournament ending injury during a game of “foot volleyball” on a Rio de Janeiro beach just before the squad left for France.
Despite Romario protesting that he would be fit to face Scotland in the opening match of the finals, team doctor, Lidio Toledo, confirmed that the injury was defying both time and treatment. It would be a month before Romario could train again, let alone play. To the disbelief of the nation, Mario Zagallo after much deliberation confirmed he was not willing to gamble on Romario’s fitness and called up a defensive midfielder in the form of Emerson.
1999 Season
Keen to put the disappointment of missing out on the 1998 World Cup behind him, Romario enjoyed his best goalscoring season to date… scoring a phenomenal 46 goals in 54 games during the 1999 Brazilian season. Flamengo won the 1999 Copa Mercosur, the second-tier cup of South America and the second Campeonato Carioca of Romario’s career. Their main rivals were a strong Vasco De Gama outfit featuring the likes of Juninho Pernambucano and Edmundo.
In the national league Romario scored 12 goals in 19 games to help secure a mid table finish for Flamengo but was harshly sacked for going to a nightclub in the hours after a defeat to minnows Juventude that had dumped them out of the national championship.
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Amoros was deployed on either flank. Due to his versatility he was able to combine with the midfield as well as provide width in a very narrow French set up.
LATER CAREER AND RETIREMENT
RETURN TO VASCO
2000 Season
Despite long-harboured resentment from a segment of Vasco fans, Romário rejoined the club in 2000 on the premise he would be let go after the Club World Championship. He linked up again with Edmundo but by now their relationship had soured into open enmity. Nevertheless they forged a prolific partnership., with an early sign of the pairs potency being the infamous 5-1 Easter Sunday drubbing of Flamengo where Romario mocked his former club by initiating a chorus of “o chocolate da Páscoa” (i.e., Easter chocolate, after the Rio’s football slang “chocolate” for a big win and as the game was played on Easter).
Romario would soon be forced to eat humble pie as Flamengo won the second stage of the Campeonato Carioca. For the second year in a row, the teams with the most fans in the city were face to face, fighting for the title of best in Rio. And, for the second year in a row, Flamengo earned the trophy. The team led by the club icon Carlinhos won the two matches 5-1 on aggregate thus successfully avenging the ‘Chocolate’ game. Revenge tasted sweet.
World Club Championship
The disappointment of the finishing runners up in the Campeonato Carioica did not linger for long as Vasco had bigger fish to fry. Edmundo and Romario led Vasco to the final of the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship, with Romário finishing as joint-top goalscorer with three goals. The most notable performance from the pair was a 3–1 defeat of European champions Manchester United at the Maracanã, where Romário scored twice and Edmundo added a third before half time. Their movement on and off the ball and the exceptional level of technical skill on display, in particular Edmundo’s first touch and turn for the third goal which was simply sensational…
Vasco won all three of their group games to qualify for the final and faced a Corinthians side who had squeezed Real Madrid out of the competition via goal difference. Romario’s desire to dedicate his career to the Brazilian league had been vindicated… was South American football really an inferior product?. The final was unfortunately a dull affair which failed to capture the attention of the masses – There were no goals in regulation time or extra time and it went to penalties. Romario slotted away his penalty but Edmundo fatally did not…Corinthians were the inaugural Club World Cup Champions.
Copa Mercosur and Brazilian Championship
Romário, despite the president’s word, was not let go after the competition. Controversially he signed a longer-term contract on the condition that the captain’s armband would be seized from Edmundo and given to him. As expected Edmundo plotted his escape. Despite such a set back, Romario continued his rich vein of form by playing key roles in the Copa Mercosur and Brazilian Championship.
In the Mercosur final Vasco faced Brazilian rivals Palmeiras from São Paulo. After splitting the first two matches, a decisive third took place in São Paulo. Palmeiras took a seemingly unsurmountable 3–0 lead before half-time. In the second half however, Vasco – inspired by Romario – mounted a stunning comeback scoring four goals including Romário’s winner in stoppage time, which completed his hat-trick.
The decision to keep Romário was vindicated as he took Vasco to a historic Brazilian championship earning the golden boot along the way. In the final against Sao Caetano, a Romario equaliser. secured a 1-1 draw. The second match was suspended after an early pitch invasion and despite arguments that São Caetano should be declared champion, Vasco successfully petitioned the league for a third match. Vasco went on to win 3-1 with Romario scoring the third goal. He finished the season with an astonishing 56 goals from 71 games, receiving both the South American and Brazilian Footballer of the Year awards.
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Amoros was deployed on either flank. Due to his versatility he was able to combine with the midfield as well as provide width in a very narrow French set up.
LATER CAREER AND RETIREMENT
COMPETING FOR THE COPA LIBERTADORES
2001 Season
The following season, Vasco and Flamengo once again faced off in the final of the Campeonate Carioca. Flamengo were seeking their third consecutive regional title and Vasco wanted to prove they can rule the roost in their own backyard too. Unfortunately Romario picked up an injury and in his absence Flamengo sealed their ‘Tri-Campeonato’ by overturning a 2-1 first leg deficit with a 3-1 win in the second leg. Keen to make amends for his absence, Romario playing out of his skin in Vasco’s defence of the National Championship, scoring 19 goals in 22 games but ultimately Vasco would languish in mid table.
In the Copa Libertadores, Romario scored 5 goals in 8 games, taking Vasco into the Quarter-Finals against Boca Juniors. With anticipation building for what would be a truly historic encounter, Romario picked up another untimely injury and just like in the Campeonato Carioica Final – his absence would prove fatal. Without Romario, Vasco simply had no weapons with which to hurt Boca and were thoroughly outplayed. In particular they failed to get to grips with a budding Juan Roman Riquelme who pulled the strings in midfield as Boca triumphed 4-0 on aggregate.
MISSING OUT ON WORLD CUP GLORY
2002 Season
With the 2002 World Cup 6 months away, and entering his 36th year, Romario was still very much in contention for the chance to repeat his 1994 triumph. Whilst he was enjoying his time on the pitch, he was in dispute with Vasco da Gama over unpaid salary. Once again he ruffled feathers by openly touting for a return to arch rivals Flamengo. With no move forthcoming, Romario managed to score 26 goals in 25 games though due to fitness issues he played an increasingly bit part role in the disappointing regional league campaign in which he only featured in 5 games albeit scoring 8 goals.
Prior to the 2002 season, Romário pulled out of the 2001 Copa América citing the need for an eye operation. Yet days later he was caught playing friendlies for Vasco. Romario going AWOL nearly cost Scolari his job as Brazil stumbled to a quarter-final exit. Incensed senior players in the Brazilian set up demanded that Scolari exclude the veteran from the 2002 World Cup Squad. They need not have bothered as Scolari had his own axe to grind. After it was announced that Romario would not be part of the 2002 World Cup Squad, a repentant Romario was truly devastated but in truth, he had no one to blame when he could only watch on as Brazil lifted their fifth trophy.
MOVING ON WITH FLUMINENSE
After the heartbreak of missing out on the World Cup, Romario decided it was time for a new chapter in his life and made the move to Fluminense midway through the Brazilian season. They were the reigning Campeonato Carioca champions and in Romario they saw someone who could help them mount a series challenge for the National Championship. He was seduced by their offer of special privileges which included being allowed his own physiotherapist, travel separately for away games and permitted to arrive only one hour before kick-off. In return, Romario led Fluminense to the semi-finals of the Brazilian championships, scoring 16 goals in the process.
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Amoros was deployed on either flank. Due to his versatility he was able to combine with the midfield as well as provide width in a very narrow French set up.
LATER CAREER AND RETIREMENT
LUCRATIVE MOVE TO QATAR
2002/2003 Season
He then cut short his stint at Fluminense to make the lucrative move to Qatar where he spent three months, was paid $1.2 million, played three games and failed to score a goal. Romario was initially given a rousing reception when he arrived in Qatar at the end of February but his problems began when he was blocked from playing in the Asian Champions League because he had not been registered in time. He then fell out with the team coach who wanted Romario to become more involved with the build up and not just come alive in the opposition’s penalty area.
FAREWELL TO FLU
2003 Season
Regretting his cursed move to Qatar, Romario swiftly returned to Fluminense who found themselves 12th in the 24-team Brazilian championship and a quarter of the way in the competition. Romario’s goals would prove key in helping Fluminense stay up in what was the first relegation battle of Romario’s career. Despite his potency in goal remaining intact, the general standard of Romario’s performances attracted criticism and he would assault charges for attacking a fan who threw six live chickens on the field during practice.
2004 Season
In the final season of his Fluminense stint, Romario was to be reunited with Edmundo. The pair were more willing to put aside previous misdemeanours to reclaim former glories. In the first stage of the Campeonato Carioca, the Taca Guanabara, in front of a full house at the Maracanã… Flamengo’s won a thrilling encounter against Fluminense in the final. Not perturbed by that defeat, Fluminense also made the final of the Taca Rio…but a Romario penalty was not enough to stave off a 2-1 defeat to Vasco and ‘Flu’ had missed the chance to compete for the regional title.
In the latter half of the season, Romario due to fitness woes had only participated in 13 Brazilian Championship games and repeatedly clashed with his coaches. Whilst Fluminense nevertheless performed better than the previous season, finishing within the top 10… Romario was once again attracting the ire of the fans, who considered him as a ‘mercenary’ and the end was nigh. He was sacked in October.
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Amoros was deployed on either flank. Due to his versatility he was able to combine with the midfield as well as provide width in a very narrow French set up.
LATER CAREER AND RETIREMENT
VETERAN RETURNS TO VASCO
2005 Season
With the likes of Pele writing him off and shade being thrown at him from a variety of media sources for still forlornly hunting for his 1000th goal… Romario had no club to play for. Romário then went back once again to play for the team he started at, Vasco da Gama. In 2005, at 39 years of age, Romário scored 22 goals in the Brazilian Championship, making him the league’s top goalscorer for the third time. Despite his contribution, Vasco would languish in midtable.
2006 Season
After a brief contribution to Vasco’s Campeonate Carioca campaign, Romário joined Miami FC along with former 1994 FIFA World Cup teammate Zinho. He helped Miami FC reach their first ever USL-1 Playoffs, scoring 19 league goals in 25 appearances for the team. club Adelaide United FC for a 5-game guest stint. During his final game on 15 December 2006 he finally scored a goal for Adelaide to end what many considered to be a disappointing spell with the club.
2007 Season
In January 2007 he signed a new deal with Vasco da Gama scoring 15 goals in 19 games before proceeding to retire. He briefly came out of retirement play for America from Rio de Janeiro. He stated that he would play for the club to fulfill his father’s wishes.
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POST RETIREMENT
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POST RETIREMENT
On 19 February 2014, Romário announced that he would run for the Brazilian senate in the 2014 general election, and the decision was officially confirmed in June. On 5 October, Romario was elected to the Brazilian senate with the most votes received ever by a candidate representing the state of Rio de Janeiro.
In June 2017, Romário left the PSB and joined Podemos, becoming president of the party in the State of Rio de Janeiro. In March 2018, Romário announced he is to run for governor of Rio de Janeiro in the Brazilian general election and would stand as a candidate for the centrist Podemos party. Romário finished in fourth place, with 8.6% of valid votes.
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TACTICAL ANALYSIS
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TACTICAL ANALYSIS
Small, stocky and fearless, Romario was a hybrid of Gerd Muller and Maradona in terms of his style of play. He possessed the German’s dead-eyed finishing and penalty box nous and yet he could produce audacious moments of skill and close control which the Argentine was famed for. When he was in the mood, he was simply one of the most devastatingly effective footballers of all time in the final third.
Tactically whilst Romario is often cited as a ‘Poacher’ in truth he was a lot more complete and gave more to the teams he played for than he is given credit. He was the ideal modern day forward, moving away from the central defenders to drop deep and link up play.. or turn with the ball and run at them. His passing and assist making was incredibly underrated. He not only possessed wonderful vision but had the feel and technical ability to execute dangerous through balls for support forwards to run on to and that is what made him such a perfect striker for a manager like Cruyff.
Whilst he was renowned as a ‘big match’ footballer who lived for the ‘big moments’… Romario could be marked out of the game on the biggest stages. Maldini and Baresi proved that Romario was not invincible and his kryptonite was defenders who had the intelligence and nimbleness to handle his unbelievable changes of direction. Unlike Maradona, who made himself stronger and harder to beat.. Romario never quite possessed the discipline to want to improve. It was a great shame because the Italians had to be at their absolute best just to keep up with him and more effort on his part could have made him arguably the most feared striker of all time – period.
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IN HIS OWN WORDS…
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When I sleep too much I don’t score. That’s the reason I like to go out a lot.
Veja Magazine; 1895 Edition, March 9, 2005.
I’ll never forget my friends and where I came from.
Romario on his return to Brazilian football
Will I become a coach in the future? No way. I’d never be able to put up with someone like me
Romario on becoming a Coach
