Carlos Alberto Torres

Carlos Alberto Torres (born July 17, 1944, Rio de Janeiro) is a former Brazilian footballer, one of the most highly regarded defenders of all time. He captained Brazil to victory in the 1970 World Cup and is a member of the World Team of the 20th Century, as well as the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Carlos Alberto joined Fluminense at the age of 19. He made a name for himself in his first season, not only because of his great tackling and reading of the game, but also due to his outstanding ball control, dribbling and playmaking abilities, which were quite rare at the time for a defender. In 1966, he moved to Santos, where he became Pelé's teammate. In 1974, he returned to Fluminense and helped the team capture two consecutive Campeonato Carioca championships. In 1977, he moved to Fluminense's arch-rivals Flamengo.

In 1977, despite a great career in Brazil, Carlos Alberto Torres decided to move to the New York Cosmos where he was reunited with his friend and partner Pelé and helped the Cosmos capture two consecutive NASL titles in 1977 and 1978. After spending one year with the California Surf, he returned to the Cosmos in 1982 where he won his third NASL title. He played his farewell game on September 28 1982 in an exhibition match between the Cosmos and his former club Flamengo. In 119 regular season games and 26 playoff games, Carlos scored a total of 8 goals and was an NASL All-Star five times.

Carlos Alberto Torres is considered a legend among football insiders for his massive contributions to Brazil during an era when centre-backs were to be heard but not seen. From 1964 to 1977, Torres was capped 53 times and scored 8 goals. Perhaps his greatest feat was when he captained Brazil in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico to an impressive victory over Italy. This legendary squad also included Clodoaldo, Gérson, Jairzinho, Roberto Rivelino, Tostão and Pelé. This team scored one of the most memorable team goals against Italy in the final, with Carlos Alberto sauntering down the right wing unmarked to score the fourth goal in their 4-1 defeat of Italy. Carlos Alberto's goal against Italy in the final of the Football World Cup 1970 is considered one of the greatest goals ever scored in the history of the tournament. Despite his spectacular performance during the 1970 cup, he did not participate in the 1974 World Cup due to a knee injury,

Carlos Alberto retired from the Brazil National Team in 1977, right before joining the NASL. Today he is considered one of the finest Brazilian footballers of all time, with the likes of Pelé, Zico, Ronaldo, Garrincha and fellow defenders Roberto Carlos and Nilton Santos. 

His career as a football manager started in 1983, when he managed Flamengo. He also managed several other clubs, like Corinthians in 1985 and 1986; Náutico in 1986, 1987 and 1988; Once Caldas on 1989, 1990; Monterrey in 1991, 1992; Club Tijuana in 1992; Fluminense in 1994 and 1995; Botafogo in 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2003; Querétaro FC in 1999; Unión Magdalena in 2000, 2001; and Paysandu

in 2005.

He was also an assistant manager for national teams like Nigeria national football team and Oman national football team. On 14 February 2004 he was appointed manager of Azerbaijan national football team. He resigned on 4 June 2005 after the lost match against Poland, during which he assaulted the technical referee and ran on the pitch suggesting the referee was bribed.

[source : Carlos Alberto Torres]

Carlos Alberto's Pictures