Luís Vinício
Encyclopedia
Luís Vinícius de Menezes, more famously known as Vinício (born 28 February 1932 in Belo Horizonte
, Brazil
) was a professional football player, who played as a center forward. Although he is a Brazilian, Vinício played his entire career in Italy
.
during the 1956-1957 season. He style was considered generous and powerful on the field, which soon gained him the nickname O lione (lion
) from the Napoli faithful. In total for the club he played 152 games and scored 69 goals in a 5 year period.
He moved on next to Bologna, his first season there was a good one, but the successive year Vinício played only a few contests, he had hot competition for his place with youngster Harald Nielsen in the squad.
In the summer of 1962 he returned disconsolate to Brazil
, after finding little football action in recent years with Bologna. However soon he was recalled to Italy from the leaders of the Lanerossi Vicenza
who offered him a new contract. To Vinício joining Vicenza was like a second birth in Italian football.
After an average first year, he returned to scoring goals like in his prime, with 17 goals in the 1963-1964 season, which brought the club to 6th in Serie A
. In 1964-1965 his performances were still decisive, helping Vicenzia to the tenth place in championship. The following season he scored 25 goals; a top-scoring record that would not be equalled again until Marco van Basten in 1991-1992.
In the summer of 1966 he left Vicenza because Helenio Herrera
signed Vinício to play for Internazionale
. His tenure in nerazzurro did not bring much luck however; he competed only 8 games for the club and scored one goal.
For the final season of his playing career, he returned to Vicenza at age 36. This season saw him take his total goal scoring record, for all games player in Serie A during his career to over 150 goals.
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
, 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...
) was a professional football player, who played as a center forward. Although he is a Brazilian, Vinício played his entire career in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Biography
At age 23 Vinício came to Italy, joining the Naples representative club NapoliS.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
during the 1956-1957 season. He style was considered generous and powerful on the field, which soon gained him the nickname O lione (lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
) from the Napoli faithful. In total for the club he played 152 games and scored 69 goals in a 5 year period.
He moved on next to Bologna, his first season there was a good one, but the successive year Vinício played only a few contests, he had hot competition for his place with youngster Harald Nielsen in the squad.
In the summer of 1962 he returned disconsolate to 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...
, after finding little football action in recent years with Bologna. However soon he was recalled to Italy from the leaders of the Lanerossi Vicenza
Vicenza Calcio
Vicenza Calcio is an Italian football club based in Vicenza, Veneto. The club was formed in 1902 and currently plays in Italy's Serie B, having spent the entire 1960s and a large part of the 1990s in Serie A...
who offered him a new contract. To Vinício joining Vicenza was like a second birth in Italian football.
After an average first year, he returned to scoring goals like in his prime, with 17 goals in the 1963-1964 season, which brought the club to 6th in Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
. In 1964-1965 his performances were still decisive, helping Vicenzia to the tenth place in championship. The following season he scored 25 goals; a top-scoring record that would not be equalled again until Marco van Basten in 1991-1992.
In the summer of 1966 he left Vicenza because Helenio Herrera
Helenio Herrera
Helenio Herrera Gavilán was a Franco-Argentine football player and manager.Although born in Argentina, Herrera's parents were both Spanish, his father being a well-known Spanish anarchist in exile...
signed Vinício to play for Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
. His tenure in nerazzurro did not bring much luck however; he competed only 8 games for the club and scored one goal.
For the final season of his playing career, he returned to Vicenza at age 36. This season saw him take his total goal scoring record, for all games player in Serie A during his career to over 150 goals.