Vítor Baptista
Encyclopedia
Vítor Manuel Ferreira Baptista (born 18 October 1948 - died 1 January 1999) was a Portuguese
footballer. Mainly a second striker, he could also operate as an attacking midfielder.
During a 15-year professional career, which was marred by several problems of indiscipline, he played mostly for Vitória de Setúbal
(two spells), and Benfica, gaining international recognition with the latter, for which he amassed official totals of 150 games and 62 goals (128/52 for Setúbal).
, Baptista started playing organized football at the age of 13 in his hometown of Setúbal
, with local Vitória Futebol Clube
. Four years later, he received his first callup to the Portuguese junior team, managed by José Maria Pedroto
, and scored 33 top division goals in his last two seasons with the club combined, included a career-best 22 in only 26 games in 1970–71, with the Sadinos
eventually finishing in fourth position, with the subsequent UEFA Cup qualification; he also led the team to two consecutive domestic cup
finals, winning the tournament in 1967.
In the 1971 summer, Baptista signed for national giants S.L. Benfica, for a national record 3.000.000 escudo
s, in a deal which also included three players, namely veteran José Torres
. He made his official debut for the Reds on 26 September, and scored in a 3–0 away win against former team Vitória, going on to be part of the squad that won 54 league games out of 60 over the course of two seasons, winning back-to-back national championships, with the player contributing with 17 games in only 31 games; his teammates during that timeframe included Humberto Coelho, Eusébio
, Rui Jordão
, Nené and António Simões
.
After helping Benfica win a further three leagues, amidst several bouts of erratic and unprofessional behaviour, Batista demanded a pay rise and a new Porsche
in 1978, with the club's board of directors only accepting the latter. He then returned to Vitória de Setúbal, earning a monthly wage of only 100.000 escudos, six times less what he asked of his previous team. He also played one season with Boavista FC (his 13th consecutive in the top division), before moving to the United States
with the San Jose Earthquakes
, upon invitation of former Benfica teammate Simões, who had previously played there, and notably partnering George Best
at the California
club.
Batista returned home after a couple of weeks, in spite of being handed a $
2.5 million contract and a Corvette
. He retired from football in 1986 at nearly 38, after several seasons in amateur football, his last stop being Estrelas do Faralhão Futebol Clube; his Portuguese top division totals consisted of 225 games and 99 goals.
for Portugal
. His debut came on 17 February 1971, in a 0–3 loss against Belgium in Brussels
, for the UEFA Euro 1972 qualifiers.
Also during that competition, Baptista scored his only two goals for the national team, in a 5–0 home win against Denmark
in Porto
. After insulting manager Juca
- he clashed with several coaches during his career - and some teammates minutes into a training to which he arrived late in 1976, he was expelled and never represented the country again.
against Sporting Clube de Portugal, Baptista lost his left earring
minutes after scoring. He started looking for the missing object after realizing it was missing, in a scene that lasted almost five minutes; he refused to celebrate the final win, claiming he had "lost money" that day - the players each received 8.000 escudos for the two points, the piece was valued at 12.000. He subsequently added the moniker O Rapaz do Brinco (The Earring Boy) to the already existing O Maior (The Greatest), Gargantas (Loudmouth), O Rapaz dos Pés de Ouro (The Boy with the Golden Feet) and Meu Deus (My God).
Baptista struggled heavily with alcoholism
and drug abuse
still as an active player. In his last seasons, spent in the regional leagues, he resorted to stealing to support his habit, dying on New Year's Day
1999, aged only 50.
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...
footballer. Mainly a second striker, he could also operate as an attacking midfielder.
During a 15-year professional career, which was marred by several problems of indiscipline, he played mostly for Vitória de Setúbal
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
(two spells), and Benfica, gaining international recognition with the latter, for which he amassed official totals of 150 games and 62 goals (128/52 for Setúbal).
Club career
After working in his teens as an electricianElectrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
, Baptista started playing organized football at the age of 13 in his hometown of Setúbal
Setúbal
Setúbal is the main city in Setúbal Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.0 km² and a total population of 118,696 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper has 89,303 inhabitants....
, with local Vitória Futebol Clube
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
. Four years later, he received his first callup to the Portuguese junior team, managed by José Maria Pedroto
José Maria Pedroto
José Maria Carvalho Pedroto, OIH, was a Portuguese footballer and trainer. He was nicknamed Zé do Boné since, like the character, he usually wore a flat cap....
, and scored 33 top division goals in his last two seasons with the club combined, included a career-best 22 in only 26 games in 1970–71, with the Sadinos
Sado River
The Sado River is a river in Southern Portugal, and is one of the major rivers in the country. It flows in a South/North direction through 175 km from its springs in the Caldeirão hills before entering the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary in the city of Setúbal.In Setúbal, its estuary is famous...
eventually finishing in fourth position, with the subsequent UEFA Cup qualification; he also led the team to two consecutive domestic cup
Taça de Portugal
The 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...
finals, winning the tournament in 1967.
In the 1971 summer, Baptista signed for national giants S.L. Benfica, for a national record 3.000.000 escudo
Portuguese escudo
The escudo was the currency of Portugal prior to the introduction of the Euro on 1 January 1999 and its removal from circulation on 28 February 2002. The escudo was subdivided into 100 centavos....
s, in a deal which also included three players, namely veteran José Torres
José Augusto Torres
José Augusto da Costa Séneca Torres was a Portuguese football centre forward and coach.Nicknamed O Bom Gigante , most of his 21-year senior career was spent at Benfica, with great individual and team success...
. He made his official debut for the Reds on 26 September, and scored in a 3–0 away win against former team Vitória, going on to be part of the squad that won 54 league games out of 60 over the course of two seasons, winning back-to-back national championships, with the player contributing with 17 games in only 31 games; his teammates during that timeframe included Humberto Coelho, Eusébio
Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, GCIH, GCM , commonly known simply as Eusébio, is a retired Mozambican-born Portuguese football forward. He is considered one of the best footballers of all-time by the IFFHS, experts and fans...
, Rui Jordão
Rui Jordão
Rui Manuel Trindade Jordão is a retired Portuguese footballer.One of the most prolific strikers in the history of Portuguese football, his career was mainly associated with two of the biggest clubs in the country, Benfica and Sporting, winning the Silver Ball award twice, once with each...
, Nené and António Simões
António Simões
António José Simões da Costa ; born Corroios, 14 December 1943) is a Portuguese footballer and a current coach. He played as a left winger for Benfica, from 1961/62 to 1974/75. With only 1.58 m of height, he is seen as the first "Giant Gnome" of Portuguese football, before Rui Barros...
.
After helping Benfica win a further three leagues, amidst several bouts of erratic and unprofessional behaviour, Batista demanded a pay rise and a new Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
in 1978, with the club's board of directors only accepting the latter. He then returned to Vitória de Setúbal, earning a monthly wage of only 100.000 escudos, six times less what he asked of his previous team. He also played one season with Boavista FC (his 13th consecutive in the top division), before moving to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, upon invitation of former Benfica teammate Simões, who had previously played there, and notably partnering George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
at the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
club.
Batista returned home after a couple of weeks, in spite of being handed a $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2.5 million contract and a Corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
. He retired from football in 1986 at nearly 38, after several seasons in amateur football, his last stop being Estrelas do Faralhão Futebol Clube; his Portuguese top division totals consisted of 225 games and 99 goals.
International career
During five years, Baptista gained 11 capsCap (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...
for Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
. His debut came on 17 February 1971, in a 0–3 loss against Belgium in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, for the UEFA Euro 1972 qualifiers.
Also during that competition, Baptista scored his only two goals for the national team, in a 5–0 home win against Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
in Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
. After insulting manager Juca
Juca
Júlio Cernadas Pereira, aka Juca , was a Portuguese football midfielder and coach....
- he clashed with several coaches during his career - and some teammates minutes into a training to which he arrived late in 1976, he was expelled and never represented the country again.
Honours
- Setúbal:
- 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...
: 1966–67; Runner-up 1967–68
- Portuguese Cup
- Benfica:
- Portuguese League: 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77
- 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...
: 1971–72; Runner-up 1973–74, 1974–75
The earring incident / Death
During a Lisbon DerbyDerby de Lisboa
The Derby de Lisboa, also known as Derby Eterno, Derby da Segunda Circular or Derby da Capital, is the most important football derby match in Portugal. It opposes the Lisbon teams of Sporting Clube de Portugal and Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Sporting fans usually represent the wealthier society from...
against Sporting Clube de Portugal, Baptista lost his left earring
Earring
Common locations for piercings, other than the earlobe, include the rook, tragus, and across the helix . The simple term "ear piercing" usually refers to an earlobe piercing, whereas piercings in the upper part of the external ear are often referred to as "cartilage piercings"...
minutes after scoring. He started looking for the missing object after realizing it was missing, in a scene that lasted almost five minutes; he refused to celebrate the final win, claiming he had "lost money" that day - the players each received 8.000 escudos for the two points, the piece was valued at 12.000. He subsequently added the moniker O Rapaz do Brinco (The Earring Boy) to the already existing O Maior (The Greatest), Gargantas (Loudmouth), O Rapaz dos Pés de Ouro (The Boy with the Golden Feet) and Meu Deus (My God).
Baptista struggled heavily with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and drug abuse
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
still as an active player. In his last seasons, spent in the regional leagues, he resorted to stealing to support his habit, dying on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
1999, aged only 50.