SAD NEWS! Brazil football fans mourn as Coutinho passes on!

Former Brazil and Santos striker Coutinho died on Monday at the age of 75. The former Santos star passed away in his home on Monday. Born Antonio Wilson Vieira Honorio on June 11, 1943, the striker went on to become a legend with Santos, where he made 457 total appearances while scoring 370 goals for the Brazilian club. Coutinho remains the third highest scorer in Santos history, with 368 goals in 457 matches, behind only Pele and Pepe in the club’s history.

He was a member of the historic Santos squad that dominated world football at the time with Coutinho, Pele, Pepe and Dorval leading the squad. During his time with the club, Coutinho was a two-time Copa Libertadores champion while winning two Intercontinental Cups and six Campeonato Paulista titles.

The forward was also a member of Brazil’s 1962 World Cup-winning squad, but was sidelined by injury just before the tournament. Coutinho did not appear, although he remained in the squad as Brazil went on to top Czechoslovakia to win the title.

The former striker was hospitalized in January with pneumonia, but eventually left the hospital. Cause of death has yet to be confirmed. His funeral will take place at Vila Belmiro at a time to be confirmed at a later date.

Coutinho’s profile:

Antônio Wilson Vieira Honório (11 June 1943 – 11 March 2019), nicknamed Coutinho, was a Brazilian coach and footballer who played as a forward for Santos Futebol Clube, being a teammate and one of the best partners of Pelé, and became a member of the Brazilian national team the won the 1962 FIFA World Cup. Coutinho is third all-time top goalscorer of Santos Futebol Clube.

Club career
Born in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo on 11 June 1943, Coutinho was spotted at the age of 13 by Santos’ coach Luís Alonso Pérez “Lula”. One year later he became part of the Santos’ lower division.
His professional career at Santos took place from 1958 to 1968 and in 1970, periods during which Santos won, among other titles, five Taça Brasil and seven Campeonato Paulista titles, two Copa Libertadores, and two Intercontinental Cups. Coutinho has been named the greatest Santos’ player after Pelé, with whom he formed a mythical attacking duo with 1461 goals scored (370 by Coutinho). After his tenure at Santos, he also played for Vitória of Bahia, Portuguesa of São Paulo, and Atlas of Mexico.

International career
At the international level, Coutinho earned 15 caps and scored 6 goals with the Brazil national football team between 1960 and 1965. He was meant to be a starter in the 1962 FIFA World Cup winning squad, but was sidelined by injury just before the tournament, and did not appear, even though he remained in the squad. Brazil went on to win the title.

Death
Coutinho died on March 11, 2019, in Santos, São Paulo. His death was caused by a myocardial infarction due to Diabetes and Hypertension. Coutinho’s health had been deteriorating in recent months, and in January he had been hospitalized for pneumonia.

Honours
Club
Santos FC
Campeonato Paulista: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967[4]
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965[4]
Copa Libertadores: 1962, 1963[4]
Intercontinental Cup: 1962, 1963[2]
Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1959, 1963, 1964, 1966[2]

International
Brazil
FIFA World Cup: 1962

Individual
Copa Libertadores Top Scorer: 1962[2]

Cafu: “He died this legend of our football and my dear friend Coutinho. My feelings and prayers for the family. @SantosFC”

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