Baltazar Maria de Morais Júnior
Encyclopedia
Baltazar Maria de Morais Júnior, simply Baltazar (born 17 July 1959 in Goiânia
, Goiás
), is a retired Brazil
ian footballer who played as a striker.
During an 18-year professional career, he played, other than in his country, in Spain
, Portugal
, France
and Japan
, winning several individual scoring honours. He appeared with the Brazilian national team
at the 1989 Copa América.
. In 1979, he signed for Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
, going on to score in double digits during his entire four-season spell (a best of 14 in 1980), while being an instrumental offensive unit in the club's back-to-back Rio Grande do Sul State League
conquests; in the 1981's Brazilian League
final against São Paulo FC, after missing a penalty kick
in the first leg (2–1 home win), he scored the only goal in the second game, for the club's first-ever national championship.
In the following four years, Baltazar played for Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
(two spells), Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
and Botafogo
, scoring 13 goals for the second club in another Brazilian championship conquest. Aged 26, he had his first abroad experience, being relegated from the Spanish
La Liga
with Celta de Vigo
.
In 1986–87, Baltazar propelled the Galician club back into the top level, scoring a career-best 34 goals, also a best-ever in the second division
. He only found the net six times in the following season, but the club retained its division status.
Subsequently, Baltazar stayed in the country and joined Atlético Madrid, exploding for 35 goals in 36 contests in his first season - his second Pichichi in three years - and adding 18 in the following. However, after the emergence of younger Manolo
, the 31-year old was deemed surplus to requirements by manager Tomislav Ivić
and, in November 1990, signed for F.C. Porto in Portugal
, being used almost exclusively as a substitute during his only season.
Until his retirement at the age of 37 in 1996, Baltazar played for Stade Rennais FC (France
), Goiás Esporte Clube
and Kyoto Purple Sanga (Japan
).
at the 1989 Copa América which was held on home soil, appearing in three group stage matches for the eventual winners (including the 0–0 against Colombia
as a starter).
However, during nearly one full decade, he only gained a total of six caps
, scoring two goals.
|1979||rowspan="4"|Grêmio
||rowspan="4"|Série A
||16||10
|-
|1980||18||14
|-
|1981||21||10
|-
|1982||23||12
|-
|1983||Flamengo
||Série A
||26||13
|-
|1984||Palmeiras
||Série A
||11||2
|-
|1984||rowspan="2"|Botafogo
||rowspan="2"|Série A
||0||0
|-
|1985||18||1
|-
|1985/86||rowspan="3"|Celta
||La Liga
||32||6
|-
|1986/87||Segunda División
||44||34
|-
|1987/88||La Liga
||16||7
|-
|1988/89||rowspan="3"|Atlético Madrid||rowspan="3"|La Liga
||36||35
|-
|1989/90||38||18
|-
|1990/91||3||0
|-
|1990/91||Porto||Primeira Liga||19||2
|-
|1991/92||rowspan="2"|Stade Rennais||Ligue 1
||34||6
|-
|1992/93||Ligue 2
||0||0
|-
|1993||rowspan="2"|Goiás
||Série A
||0||0
|-
|1994||Série B
||0||0
|-
|1995||rowspan="2"|Kyoto Purple Sanga||Football League
||27||28
|-
|1996||J. League 1||3||0
133||62
169||100
19||2
34||6
30||28
385||198
|}
|1980||1||0
|-
|1981||2||1
|-
|1982||0||0
|-
|1983||0||0
|-
|1984||0||0
|-
|1985||0||0
|-
|1986||0||0
|-
|1987||0||0
|-
|1988||0||0
|-
|1989||3||1
|-
!Total||6||2
|}
, Baltazar was nickname
d O Artilheiro de Deus (God
's striker). He became a minister after retiring from football, settling in his hometown and fathering two children.
Goiânia
-Climate:The city has a tropical wet and dry climate with an average temperature of . There's a wet season, from October to April, and a dry one, from May to September. Annual rainfall is around 1,520 mm....
, Goiás
Goiás
Goiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
), is a retired Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian footballer who played as a striker.
During an 18-year professional career, he played, other than in his country, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, winning several individual scoring honours. He appeared with the Brazilian national team
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
at the 1989 Copa América.
Club career
Baltazar started playing with hometown club Atlético Clube GoianienseAtlético Clube Goianiense
Atlético Clube Goianiense, usually known as Atlético Goianiense or just Atlético, is a Brazilian football team from the city of Goiânia, Goiás state. Atlético Goianiense is the oldest Goiânia city football club. The club is the first team of its state to win a national competition, which was the...
. In 1979, he signed for Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa...
, going on to score in double digits during his entire four-season spell (a best of 14 in 1980), while being an instrumental offensive unit in the club's back-to-back Rio Grande do Sul State League
Campeonato Gaúcho
The Campeonato da Primeira Divisão de Futebol Profissional da FGF is the top tier of the footballleague of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.-Clubs:Clubs qualified to Campeonato Gaúcho Primeira Divisão 2011.*Canoas*Caxias...
conquests; in the 1981's Brazilian League
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
final against São Paulo FC, after missing a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in the first leg (2–1 home win), he scored the only goal in the second game, for the club's first-ever national championship.
In the following four years, Baltazar played for Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
(two spells), Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
and Botafogo
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato...
, scoring 13 goals for the second club in another Brazilian championship conquest. Aged 26, he had his first abroad experience, being relegated from the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
with Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
.
In 1986–87, Baltazar propelled the Galician club back into the top level, scoring a career-best 34 goals, also a best-ever in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
. He only found the net six times in the following season, but the club retained its division status.
Subsequently, Baltazar stayed in the country and joined Atlético Madrid, exploding for 35 goals in 36 contests in his first season - his second Pichichi in three years - and adding 18 in the following. However, after the emergence of younger Manolo
Manolo (footballer)
Manuel Sánchez Delgado , nicknamed Manolo, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a striker.-Club career:...
, the 31-year old was deemed surplus to requirements by manager Tomislav Ivić
Tomislav Ivic
Tomislav Ivić was a Croatian football player and manager.Often described as a brilliant strategist, Ivić is credited with helping develop the modern style of the game...
and, in November 1990, signed for F.C. Porto in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, being used almost exclusively as a substitute during his only season.
Until his retirement at the age of 37 in 1996, Baltazar played for Stade Rennais FC (France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), Goiás Esporte Clube
Goiás Esporte Clube
Goiás Esporte Clube, also known as Goiás, is a Brazilian football team in Goiânia, Goiás state. It is one of the largest clubs of the Central-Western part of Brazil and they won the 'Série B once.Its main rival is Vila Nova...
and Kyoto Purple Sanga (Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
).
International career
Baltazar played for the Brazilian national teamBrazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
at the 1989 Copa América which was held on home soil, appearing in three group stage matches for the eventual winners (including the 0–0 against Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
as a starter).
However, during nearly one full decade, he only gained a total of six caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, scoring two goals.
Club
|-|1979||rowspan="4"|Grêmio
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa...
||rowspan="4"|Série A
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
||16||10
|-
|1980||18||14
|-
|1981||21||10
|-
|1982||23||12
|-
|1983||Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
||Série A
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
||26||13
|-
|1984||Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
||Série A
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
||11||2
|-
|1984||rowspan="2"|Botafogo
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato...
||rowspan="2"|Série A
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
||0||0
|-
|1985||18||1
|-
|1985/86||rowspan="3"|Celta
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
||La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
||32||6
|-
|1986/87||Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
||44||34
|-
|1987/88||La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
||16||7
|-
|1988/89||rowspan="3"|Atlético Madrid||rowspan="3"|La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
||36||35
|-
|1989/90||38||18
|-
|1990/91||3||0
|-
|1990/91||Porto||Primeira Liga||19||2
|-
|1991/92||rowspan="2"|Stade Rennais||Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
||34||6
|-
|1992/93||Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
||0||0
|-
|1993||rowspan="2"|Goiás
Goiás Esporte Clube
Goiás Esporte Clube, also known as Goiás, is a Brazilian football team in Goiânia, Goiás state. It is one of the largest clubs of the Central-Western part of Brazil and they won the 'Série B once.Its main rival is Vila Nova...
||Série A
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
||0||0
|-
|1994||Série B
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
The Série B is the second division of Brazilian football. It is played by 20 teams. However, the competition format has changed almost every year since it first occurred, in 1971. In some years, it was not played altogether...
||0||0
|-
|1995||rowspan="2"|Kyoto Purple Sanga||Football League
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
||27||28
|-
|1996||J. League 1||3||0
133||62
169||100
19||2
34||6
30||28
385||198
|}
International
|-|1980||1||0
|-
|1981||2||1
|-
|1982||0||0
|-
|1983||0||0
|-
|1984||0||0
|-
|1985||0||0
|-
|1986||0||0
|-
|1987||0||0
|-
|1988||0||0
|-
|1989||3||1
|-
!Total||6||2
|}
Club
- Brazilian LeagueCampeonato Brasileiro Série AThe Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
: 1981, 1983 - Rio Grande do Sul State LeagueCampeonato GaúchoThe Campeonato da Primeira Divisão de Futebol Profissional da FGF is the top tier of the footballleague of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.-Clubs:Clubs qualified to Campeonato Gaúcho Primeira Divisão 2011.*Canoas*Caxias...
: 1979, 1980 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1990–91 - Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: 1990–91 - Goiás State LeagueCampeonato GoianoThe Campeonato Goiano is the football league of the state of Goiás, Brazil.-Format:First DivisionFirst stage*Teams are divided in two groups of six teams....
: 1994
Individual
- Goiás State LeagueCampeonato GoianoThe Campeonato Goiano is the football league of the state of Goiás, Brazil.-Format:First DivisionFirst stage*Teams are divided in two groups of six teams....
: Top scorer 1978, 1994 - Rio Grande do Sul State LeagueCampeonato GaúchoThe Campeonato da Primeira Divisão de Futebol Profissional da FGF is the top tier of the footballleague of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.-Clubs:Clubs qualified to Campeonato Gaúcho Primeira Divisão 2011.*Canoas*Caxias...
: Top scorer 1980, 1981 - Rio de Janeiro State LeagueCampeonato CariocaThe Campeonato Carioca, also known as Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, is the football league of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is one of the most prestigious national football tournaments...
: Top scorer 1984 - Brazilian Second DivisionCampeonato Brasileiro Série BThe Série B is the second division of Brazilian football. It is played by 20 teams. However, the competition format has changed almost every year since it first occurred, in 1971. In some years, it was not played altogether...
: Top scorer 1994 - Pichichi Trophy: 1986–87 (Spanish Second DivisionSegunda DivisiónThe Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
), 1988–89
Post-retirement
Highly religiousReligion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, Baltazar was nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d O Artilheiro de Deus (God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
's striker). He became a minister after retiring from football, settling in his hometown and fathering two children.