Orlando Fantoni

Orlando Fantoni (13 May 1917 – 5 June 2002), also known as Fantoni IV, was a Brazilian professional footballer and manager, who played as a forward.

Playing career The youngest of the Fantoni brothers, Orlando followed in the footsteps of Ninão and Niginho by playing for Palestra Itália (currently Cruzeiro) from 1932 to 1942. He also played two seasons for Siderúrgica de Sabará and in 1948 he transferred to Lazio, being the fourth Fantoni to represent for the club . He would still play for Vasco da Gama, where he was champion in 1949 and 1950.

Managerial career Soon after retiring from the field, he accepted the task of helping in the development of football in Venezuela, taking over the command of the national team and some clubs such as UCV, Deportivo Portugués and Deportivo Itália, being national champion for all of these. As a coach he had a very successful career, being the first Brazilian to win five state championships with different teams, in addition to winning titles again with Cruzeiro and Vasco, where he had been champion as a player. Fantoni also did great work for América and Corinthians, even without winning titles, in addition to being EC Bahia champion in three editions of the state championship.

Personal life and death Orlando is brother os also footballers Niginho (Leonídio Fantoni) and Ninão (João Fantoni), cousin of Nininho Fantoni, and uncle of Benito Fantoni and Fernando Fantoni.

Fantoni died on 5 June 2002, at the age of 85 in Salvador, due to lung emphysema.

Honours

Player Cruzeiro Campeonato Mineiro: 1940

Vasco da Gama Campeonato Carioca: 1949, 1950

Manager UCV Venezuelan Primera División: 1957

Deportivo Portugués Venezuelan Primera División: 1958

Deportivo Itália Venezuelan Primera División: 1961, 1963, 1966

Cruzeiro Campeonato Mineiro: 1968 Taça Minas Gerais: 1983

Náutico Campeonato Pernambucano: 1974

Bahia Campeonato Baiano: 1976, 1986, 1987

Vasco da Gama Campeonato Carioca: 1977 Taça Guanabara: 1977

Grêmio Campeonato Gaúcho: 1979