Aldair

Aldair Nascimento dos Santos (; born 30 November 1965), known simply as Aldair, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a centre back, and who was part of the Brazil national team that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Considered as one of Brazil's greatest defenders, he spent most of his professional career at Italian club AS Roma, where he later also served as captain, winning the Serie A title with the club in 2001. Nicknamed "Pluto" by Roma fans, he is one of the members to have been inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.

Club career Aldair started playing at Flamengo where he won the State Championship Campeonato Carioca in 1986. He moved to Europe in 1989, playing with Benfica, winning the Portuguese Supercup, and reaching the European Cup final during his only season with the team.

Aldair subsequently moved to AS Roma in 1990 and played with this club during 13 seasons, until 2003. He played a total of 436 matches with the Giallorossi, scoring 20 goals in total. During this period he won the Serie A in 2001, one Supercoppa Italiana, and one Coppa Italia in 1991 (also reaching the UEFA Cup final in the same year). In 2000, Aldair was selected in the FIFA XI. Though, he remained loyal to Roma in spite of the club not having won any major international honours during his time there.

Due to his long career with Roma, Aldair is currently the most-capped foreign player in the Italian club's history and the club decided to retire his number 6 jersey when he left the team in 2003. However, this retirement was not permanent, as in 2013 the shirt number 6 has been conceded to Kevin Strootman, with Aldair's approval. In 1998, he was chosen to be the captain of the Giallorossi but preferred to grant the armband to the then 22-years old Francesco Totti. For his contribution to the club, Aldair was included into the AS Roma Hall of Fame in 2012, and thus recognized as one of the best footballers in the club's history.

After Roma, Aldair then briefly joined Genoa. In July 2005, Aldair announced plans of playing for Rio Branco, and played two games for the club in the state championship, helping his team to win the title.

Former teammate and good friend Massimo Agostini convinced him to play in San Marino for SS Murata in order to boost their Champions League campaign. After Murata's dreadful 7–1 aggregate defeat to Cypriots APOEL in the first round of qualifying for the 2006–07 UEFA Cup, Agostini decided to call upon Aldair to join him on the Italian Peninsula. Aldair took part in the Champions League qualifying stage in July 2007.

International career Aldair was part of the Brazilian squad that took part at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In 1994, he reached the pinnacle of his career when he played for the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Originally not included in the squad announced on 10 May 1994, he was called up as replacement when Carlos Mozer had to withdraw due to illness. He also played for Brazil in the 1998 World Cup, as Brazil went on to reach the final once again, only to be defeated by France. He took part in three Copa América's with Brazil, winning the title in 1989 and 1997, whilst earning a runners-up medal in 1995. Aldair won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and was part of the Brazilian team that won the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. In addition to these tournaments, Aldair also took part in two friendly tournaments with Brazil, winning the 1995 Umbro Cup, and finishing in second place in the 1997 Tournoi de France. In total, he appeared 81 times for Brazil between 1989 and 2000, scoring three goals.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFlamengo1985Série A––1986Série A2312311987Série A70701988Série A2422421989Série A––Total543543Benfica1989–90Primeira Divisão225208110336Roma1990–91Serie A29290110—4921991–92Serie A3333060104331992–93Serie A2827072—4241993–94Serie A1200000—1201994–95Serie A2815000—3311995–96Serie A3101070—3901996–97Serie A3220040—3621997–98Serie A2836200—3451998–99Serie A2703070—3701999–2000Serie A3414081—4622000–01Serie A1501031—1912001–02Serie A1601060002302002–03Serie A1701050—230Total330144126441043620Genoa2003–04Serie B17100——171Rio Branco2005Série C––——2020Murata2007–08Campionato Sammarinese100101102008–09Campionato Sammarinese––1010Total10020120Total433234327454055430

International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsBrazil1989150199031199100199200199300199411019951311996201997191199890199930200060Total813

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Aldair goal.

+ List of international goals scored by Aldair No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Estádio Brinco de Ouro, Campinas, Brazil2–12–1Friendly2Estadio Domingo Burgueño, Maldonado, Uruguay1–01–01995 Copa América3Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz, Bolivia1–23–21997 Copa América

Honours

Club Flamengo Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1987 Campeonato Carioca: 1986

Benfica Portuguese Supercup: 1989 European Cup runner-up: 1989–90

Roma Serie A: 2000–01 Coppa Italia: 1990–91 Supercoppa Italiana: 2001 UEFA Cup runner-up: 1990–91

Rio Branco Campeonato Capixaba Série B: 2005

Murata Campionato Sammarinese: 2007–08

International Brazil FIFA World Cup: 1994; runner-up 1998 Copa América: 1989, 1997; runner-up 1995 Summer Olympic Games bronze medal: 1996 FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997

Individual World XI: 2000 Golden Foot: 2008, as football legend AS Roma Hall of Fame: 2012

Aldair

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