Socrates in intensive care

Former Brazil captain Socrates in intensive care

Saturday, 20 August 2011 18:34 UK

Socrates, the captain of the Brazil team at the 1982 World Cup Finals, is in intensive care in a Sao Paulo hospital.

The 57-year-old was admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital on Friday with gastrointestinal bleeding.

According to the hospital, the haemorrhage was caused by high blood pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive system to the liver.

Socrates won 60 caps in Brazil's midfield, scoring 22 goals.

He led the flamboyant but ultimately unsuccessful Brazil team at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

Brazil cruised through the first group stage scoring 10 goals, and then beat Argentina 3-1 - but they were eliminated after losing 3-2 to Italy in their second game of the second group stage, a game Socrates scored in.

He also played in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico - not as captain - but missed a penalty in a shoot-out as Brazil lost to France in the quarter-finals.

Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, to give him his full name, delayed the start of his international career until the age of 25 so he could complete his studies as a doctor.

In his retirement, he has added a doctorate in philosophy and fathered six children, and he continues to practice medicine in the town of Ribeirao Preto in addition to being a commentator on both football and cultural issues.

He is also well-known for his smoking habit.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14602583.stm

One of the most remarkable characters in the modern day football ...

That doesn't sound good.  Wish him the best for a speedy recovery.

He was a great player.

Wasn't he the one that played one game for a non-league side?

Get well soon. A great player.

It's a shame that he will always be remembered as the captain of the best team that has failed to win the World Cup ...

Brazil 1982 - A tribute to the art of football

For the younger ones ... Enjoy ...

Hope he'll be ok, superb player in his day.

Get well soon Dr. Socrates, one of the most interesting carachters in Brazilian football and a true great of the game.

It's a shame that he will always be remembered as the captain of the best team that has failed to win the World Cup ...

Brazil 1982 - A tribute to the art of football

For the younger ones ... Enjoy ...

I agree MR - a truly wonderful team to watch.

If Zico hadnt taken that penalty for his first touch they may well be remembered as WC winners that year.

I agree MR - a truly wonderful team to watch.

If Zico hadnt taken that penalty for his first touch they may well be remembered as WC winners that year.

I think there was a little bit more to it than that, Paolo Rossi being on fire for the Italians in that game being one.

Anyway hope Socrates pulls through.

Actually Zico missed a penalty in WC 86, against France. He was coming back from an injury that kept him out for over 6 months and was a real shame that he missed it as he was usually so great in taking penalties. It means Flamengo rivals fans will always mock him for not winning the WC but for us he is God as he won every trophy he could for us.

Actually Zico missed a penalty in WC 86, against France. He was coming back from an injury that kept him out for over 6 months and was a real shame that he missed it as he was usually so great in taking penalties. It means Flamengo rivals fans will always mock him for not winning the WC but for us he is God as he won every trophy he could for us.

Ah Brazil v France in 86, regarded at the time by some as the greatest technical match ever in the world cup.

Remember watching a FIFA documentary on channel 4 one xmas in the 90s and they had the whole match in it's entirety afterwards. Some of the passing from both teams was sublime, especially considering the very slow tempo of the match.