Rui Rei

Rui Rei de Araújo (born 17 January 1953), is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Career

Rui Rei emerged in football in a community project in the favela. Taken to Flamengo, he was part of the club's squad from 1970 to 1974, when he was part of the state champion squad. He played for Portuguesa subsequently, making 45 appearances and scoring 17 goals.

In 1977 he played for AA Ponte Preta and was one of the highlights of the team's campaign that reached the state final that year, even scoring the winning goal for Ponte Preta over Corinthians in the second leg of the final, which would force an extra match.

However, in the third game of the final, he was sent off by referee Dulcídio Wanderley Boschilla right at 16th minute of the match, after offended him. Rui Rei was later accused of having forced the expulsion, as a few days after the finals, won by Corinthians, putting an end to the club's title drought, Rui Rei was announced as a reinforcement for the club. With Corinthians, he would go on to win the state title in 1979.

Honours

Flamengo Campeonato Carioca: 1974

Corinthians Campeonato Paulista: 1979