Chico Formiga

Francisco Ferreira de Aguiar (11 November 1930 – 22 May 2012), known as Chico Formiga or simply Formiga, was a Brazilian footballer and manager. Mainly a central defender, he could also play as a defensive midfielder.

Throughout his playing career, Formiga was mainly associated with Santos. As a manager, he was in charge of top tier sides Santos, São Paulo, Corinthians, Cruzeiro and América Mineiro.

Playing career Club Born in Araxá, Minas Gerais, Formiga joined Santos' youth setup in May 1950, but made his first team debut the following month after being promoted to the main squad by manager Artigas.

Formiga became a starter at Peixe in the 1952 season, winning the Campeonato Paulista twice for the club in 1955 and 1956. At the start of the 1957 season, he moved to Palmeiras for a fee of ₢$2 million plus the transfers of Laércio and Jair Rosa Pinto. He was initially called up to the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but had to withdraw due to an injury.

Managerial career Shortly after retiring, Formiga remained at Santos to work in the club's youth categories. He took over the first team for the first time in 1978, winning the year's Paulistão, which ended only in 1979. He was subsequently in charge of Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Portuguesa, Santo André, Catanduvense, Goiás and América Mineiro in his home country, aside from a period at Mexico's Universidad Guadalajara in 1990 and Japan's Oita Trinita in 1998.

From 1984 until 1986, Formiga was in charge of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq. He was sacked by the club on 13 January 1986.

In 2001, after being in charge of Palestra de São Bernardo in the previous campaign, Formiga returned to Peixe as a youth football coordinator. He left the club after a change in the organization chart.

Death Formiga died on 22 May 2012, aged 81, due to a heart attack.

Career statistics International

Honours Player Santos Campeonato Paulista: 1955, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1962 Taça Brasil: 1961, 1962 Copa Libertadores: 1962, 1963 Intercontinental Cup: 1962, 1963

Manager Santos Campeonato Paulista: 1978

São Paulo Campeonato Paulista: 1981