Paulo Soares

Paulo Soares (September 13, 1962 – September 29, 2025), also known as Amigão da Galera or simply Amigão, was a Brazilian television presenter and sports announcer. He worked for ESPN Brasil, where he became well known for presenting the of the sports program SportsCenter alongside journalist Antero Greco.

The nickname Amigão da Galera (Everyone's Friend) came about in 1990, coined by his colleague and reporter , then at Rádio Record.

Biography Born in São Paulo, Paulo Soares began his career at age 15, in 1978, at Rádio Clube de Araras, in Araras, city in the interior of São Paulo. From there, he moved on to several other radio stations in Brazil until arriving, in 1983, at , in the state capital. Rádio Record, Gazeta again, , , and followed, in a long period lasting until 2012.

Paulo made his TV debut in 1983 on Gazeta, later moving on to Record and Cultura, and in 1994 to Esportes, which was the embryo of ESPN in Brazil, founded in 1995. On TV, his main work was the of the American program SportsCenter, where he shared the panel with journalist Antero Greco, who died in 2024. "Amigão” and Antero Greco has hosted SportsCenter for over 20 years, since the program's initial phase in 2001 on ESPN, created in 2000 during the coverage of the Sydney Olympics. Still at ESPN, in addition to his work as a narrator, he hosted programs that became references in Brazilian sports journalism, such as , Bola da Vez, and Dueto.

His last television appearance was in 2024, in an ESPN tribute to Antero Greco. According to journalist Gabriel Vaquer of Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, after his last appearance, he spoke frequently with ESPN colleagues and always stated that his goal was to return to host SportsCenter. Paulo had been battling several health problems for years, including a spinal problem, and suffered multiple organ failure. He had been hospitalized at the Sírio-Libanês Hospital, in São Paulo, since April 2025, where he died.

His body was laid out at the Funeral Home, in the Bela Vista neighborhood, in São Paulo.

Personal life He was married to Marlene Soares. The couple had no children. In his honor, the club released a statement and observed a minute of silence before the club's match against Ceará in the 2025 Brasileirão.

Broadcasts

Radio

1978: Rádio Clube - Araras 1979–1980: Rádio Clube - Santos 1981: Rádio Cacique - Santos 1982: Rádio Guarujá - Guarujá 1983: Rádio Difusora Oeste - Osasco 1983–1985: - São Paulo 1985–1992: Rádio Record - São Paulo 1992: Rádio Gazeta - São Paulo 1992-1998: - São Paulo 1999–2001: - São Paulo 2007–2012: - São Paulo

Television

1983–1985: TV Gazeta - São Paulo 1985–1991: TV Record - São Paulo 1992–1993: TV Cultura - São Paulo 1994–1995: - São Paulo 1995–2025: ESPN Brasil - São Paulo 1998 e 2003: SBT - São Paulo

News coverage As a journalist, he has covered 9 FIFA World Cups, as well as the Olympic Games, Copa América and Confederations Cup. 1986 FIFA World Cup – Radio and TV Record 1990 FIFA World Cup – Radio and TV Record 1994 FIFA World Cup – Rádio Globo 1998 FIFA World Cup – ESPN Brasil and SBT 2002 FIFA World Cup – ESPN Brasil 2006 FIFA World Cup – ESPN Brasil 2010 FIFA World Cup – ESPN Brasil 2014 FIFA World Cup – ESPN Brasil 2018 FIFA World Cup – ESPN Brasil

Prizes + Awards and nominations from Paulo Soares Year Award Category Event location Result Ref. 2008 (Associação dos Cronistas Esportivos do Estado de São Paulo) Pay TV Presenter São Paulo, 2009 São Paulo, 2010 São Paulo, 2011 São Paulo, 2012 São Paulo, 2013 São Paulo, 2014 TV Presenter São Paulo, 2015 Pay TV Presenter São Paulo, 2017 TV Presenter São Paulo, 2019 São Paulo,