Émerson Leão

Émerson Leão (; born 11 July 1949) is a Brazilian former football goalkeeper and manager. He is regarded by pundits as one of the best Brazilian goalkeepers of all time. A documentary video produced by FIFA, FIFA Fever, called him the third-most impressive defense player of all time. He was born in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo.

Playing career

He was a FIFA World Cup champion in 1970 as a reserve player, at age 20. He then played the two following World Cups as first team player. He was the first Brazilian goalkeeper in history to be team captain (during the 1978 World Cup). Dida repeated the feat in 2006 in a group stage match against Japan. In the 1986 World Cup, Leão was a reserve player.

He played 80 times for the Brazil national football team. At club level, he played for several clubs, his longest term being at Palmeiras, where he won several titles, like Campeonato Brasileiro and Campeonato Paulista.

Managerial career Leão has been a manager since 1987. He was São Paulo manager in 2005, winning the Campeonato Paulista of that year. He then moved to Vissel Kobe of Japan, where he stayed for only four matches. On 18 July 2005, he became the manager of Palmeiras, a position he held until March 2006. His peak as a manager was his second stint with Santos, between 2002 and 2004, when he won the Campeonato Brasileiro in 2002, and was runner-up in both Copa Libertadores de América and Campeonato Brasileiro in 2003. Leão is often seen as a hardliner, since he demands perfect physical shape of his players, along with discipline and mutual respect. He is not fond of having well-known players on his teams, since he believes that this might cause relationship problems within the squad.

He was the manager of the Brazil national team from 15 November 2000 until 9 June 2001. From 11 matches, his Brazil side won 4, drew 4 and lost 3. Like his predecessor Vanderlei Luxemburgo, he struggled to have top players available for qualifying matches. He tried to centre the squad around Romário and younger players with little international experience. He also became the first sitting coach to travel to Europe to assess his players' activities there, where he was asked by the Europeans to not release Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos for matches that were not crucial.

Leão was dismissed by Atlético Mineiro on 4 May 2009. On 3 June 2009, Sport Recife signed the coach for the 2009 Brasileirão championship. On 26 April 2010, Leão was named as the new manager of Goiás. On 24 October 2011, São Paulo announced it had hired Leão for a second managerial spell in charge of the club.

On 30 August 2012, after two months unattached, Leão was hired by São Caetano, then participating in Série B.

Controversies Leão is known for his controversial attitudes and declarations.

In 1997, after a game between his Atlético Mineiro and Argentine side Lanús in the Conmebol Cup final, Leão was involved in a massive fight with adversaries. Leão had to rebuild his face after the incident.

In 2002, when he coached Santos, and Peixe faced Paysandu, Leão was involved again in a fight. This time, when his players faced policemen, the coach received an aggression in his eyes by a pepper spray.

In 2006, then coaching Palmeiras, Leão had problems with television pundit Milton Neves, who had kicked another television pundit, Sílvio Luiz, according to Leão. Leão said to Neves: "When you kicked Silvio Luiz's ass, a 70-year-old man, you boasted. Come to kick mine!"

In 2010, training Goiás, Leão discussed again with two another television pundits, Renata Fan and Neto. According to Leão, Neto "would not have psychological conditions to speak in a television channel". But the problems between them would happen since 1989, when Leão coached Neto in Palmeiras.

In 2013, in a research made by sports site UOL Esporte, Leão was elected the worst coach from Brazil. He had 16 votes. Celso Roth was chosen the second one.

Again in 2013, Leão said that Juvenal Juvêncio, president of São Paulo, club that he coached for two times (between 2004 and 2005 and, after, between 2011 and 2012), should abdicate due to his old age, just like Pope Benedict XVI. Juvêncio answered to Leão, saying that the coach "needs to find another job soon".

Career statistics Club

International

Managerial

Honours

Player Club Palmeiras Campeonato Brasileiro: 1969, 1972, 1973; Runner-up: 1970, 1978 Campeonato Paulista: 1972, 1974, 1976; Runner-up: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1986 Copa Libertadores Semi-Final: 1971

Vasco Campeonato Brasileiro Runner-up: 1979 Campeonato Carioca Runner-up: 1979, 1980

Grêmio Campeonato Gaúcho: 1980; Runner-up: 1981, 1982 Campeonato Brasileiro: 1981; Runner-up: 1982

Corinthians Campeonato Paulista: 1983

Brazil FIFA World Cup: 1970 Independence Cup: 1972 Copa América runner-up: 1983

Individual Bola de Prata Best Goalkeeper: 1972 Campeonato Paulista Best Goalkeeper: 1972, 1974, 1976 FIFA XI: 1979 IFFHS Brazilian Best Goalkeeper of XX Century: 2º IFFHS Brazil All Times Dream Team (Team C): 2021

Manager Sport 1987 – Copa União Yellow Module 2000 – Campeonato Pernambucano

Shimizu S Pulse 1992 – Kanagawa Cup

Verdy Kawasaki 1996 – Emperor's Cup

Atlético Mineiro 1997 – Copa Conmebol

Santos 1998 – Copa Conmebol 2002 – Campeonato Brasileiro

São Paulo 2005 – Campeonato Paulista