7 January 1985: the death of the Maestro sparks public outcry in Porto | OneFootball

On January 7, 1985, surrounded by the diaries of Miguel Torga and after being unable to fulfill his last three requests—a glass of whisky, a cigarette, and an orange juice—José Maria Pedroto passed away at his residence, near the Estádio das Antas.

More than four decades later, his name remains alive in the minds of those who worked with and cherished him, as well as in the collective memory of a people who see themselves reflected in his example of competence, dedication, and dignity. A brilliant player and unique coach, and a catalyst—alongside Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa—of a profound transformation in Portuguese football, Pedroto had a short life but left a vast legacy. From Almacave to Porto, with stays in Matosinhos, Vila Real de Santo António, Lisbon, Coimbra, Póvoa de Varzim, Setúbal, and Guimarães, this is the story of a remarkable man who never realized his dream of writing a book.

Beyond the PitchJosé Maria Pedroto was much more than a player and coach. An avid reader, active citizen, union leader, and candidate for constituent deputy, he never remained silent in the face of the suffocating centralization imposed from Lisbon on the rest of the country. He unequivocally declared it was “time to end the centralization of all powers in the capital and to allow people in the provinces to feel less relegated to oblivion.”

1928: José Maria de Carvalho Pedroto is born in Almacave, Lamego, on October 21; he was the 11th child of military officer Alfredo Pedroto and Quitéria de Carvalho—the first woman to attend the Lamego High School—and was baptized José Maria in memory of Maria José, a sister who died before his birth.

1936: After the unexpected death of Alfredo Pedroto, the family moves to Porto, to Rua da Constituição; Pinga becomes the boy’s first idol, and he would skip classes to watch FC Porto’s training sessions.

1944: Pedroto and friends found the Pedras Rubras Football Club.

1949: After completing military service in the Algarve, Pedroto plays for Lusitano de Vila Real de Santo António, then in the First Division.

An Early and Notable TransferIn 1952, to sign Pedroto from Belenenses, FC Porto paid 335 contos to the club and 150 to the player—a total of 485 contos, equivalent today to about 150,000 euros. Until then, the highest transfer fee in Portuguese football had been just 250 contos, paid by Benfica for Fernando Caiado from Boavista.

1950: With a job at the Ministry of the Navy, he moves to Belenenses.

1952: In April, he debuts for the national team; in the summer, he transfers to FC Porto for the record sum of 485 contos.

1954: He attended and graduated with distinction from the coaching course of the Porto Football Association, led by Cândido de Oliveira.

1956: With Dorival Yustrich as head coach and Pedroto excelling in midfield, FC Porto ends a 16-year championship drought and achieves its first double.

A Specialist in Ending Negative CyclesBreaking negative spells was one of Pedroto’s trademarks, both as a player and as a coach for FC Porto. In 1956, he helped secure the title that had eluded the club for 16 years; in 1968, now as coach, he won the Portuguese Cup and ended a nine-year trophy drought; he repeated this feat in 1977 and, in 1978, by becoming champion, ended a 19-year dry spell. In 1979, by winning the title again, he made the club back-to-back champions for the first time since 1940.

1958: FC Porto finishes the championship tied on points with Sporting, but the Lisbon team is crowned champion; however, the blue and whites defeat Benfica in the Portuguese Cup final.

1959: Another close contest where the top two finish level on points; this time FC Porto is champion—on March 29, Pedroto is honored at Estádio das Antas.

1960: He ends his playing career, attends a new coaching course in France, and begins working with FC Porto’s youth teams and the national team.

1961: Under Pedroto’s leadership, Portugal wins the European junior title, the first in the history of the national teams.

The Beginning and the EndJosé Maria Pedroto’s first match as FC Porto’s coach took place in Póvoa de Varzim on September 18, 1966, ending in a 3-0 victory—two goals by Djalma and an own goal by Sidónio. His last game was in Penafiel, on December 4, 1983, with FC Porto winning 1-0, thanks to a goal by Bobó.

1962: He debuts in the First Division as coach of Académica.

1964: After two seasons in Coimbra, he signs with Leixões, but does not finish the season.

1965: He takes charge of Varzim, in its second season in the First Division.

1966: For the first time, he fulfills his wish to coach FC Porto.

1968: FC Porto defeats Vitória de Setúbal in the Portuguese Cup final, and Pedroto wins his first trophy as a club coach.

Recognition Beyond BordersOn November 20, 1974, Portugal debuted in the Euro’76 qualifiers against England at Wembley. The British press predicted a rout, but few knew that José Maria Pedroto had prepared for the match with meticulous detail, studying the opponent for two decades. The Portuguese performance and the goalless draw surprised many, and even Eric Hobsbawm stated: “Without understanding society, it is difficult to be an excellent coach. Only someone knowledgeable about English football and its history, as the Portuguese coach proved to be, could so effectively block England’s rather predictable football.”

1969: With two rounds left in a season where he came close to winning the championship, Pedroto leaves FC Porto in disagreement with president Afonso Pinto de Magalhães and signs with Vitória de Setúbal.

1974: After leading the Sadinos to five notable European campaigns, he moves to Boavista and also becomes national team coach.

1975: On April 25, the first democratic elections for the Constituent Assembly are held; José Maria Pedroto is a candidate for the PPD in a symbolic position; in June, Boavista, coached by Pedroto, defeats Benfica in the Portuguese Cup final.

Setúbal’s Rise in EuropeIn almost five seasons in Setúbal, Pedroto led Vitória in three UEFA Cup campaigns and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup campaigns. On every occasion, he advanced through at least two rounds, reaching the quarter-finals three times and the round of 16 twice. Among the eliminated opponents were renowned clubs such as Liverpool, Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Anderlecht, and Leeds United.

1977: In the first season of his second spell at FC Porto, Pedroto becomes the only coach to date to win the Portuguese Cup in three consecutive seasons, defeating Braga in a home final; meanwhile, he leaves the national team.

1978: He leads FC Porto to the national title, ending a 19-year drought.

1979: FC Porto wins back-to-back championships.

1980: Pedroto and Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa leave FC Porto during the “Hot Summer,” in conflict with the board led by Américo de Sá; the coach is hired by Vitória de Guimarães.

Tempting Offers and Personal ChoicesIn 1982, while coaching Vitória de Guimarães, Pedroto was the target of a recruitment attempt by Benfica. The Benfica president, Fernando Martins, went to his home in Porto with a generous offer—a tailored salary and a suite at the Hotel Altis—which was refused. Despite less favorable conditions elsewhere, his goal remained: to return to FC Porto.

1982: Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa is elected president of FC Porto, and Pedroto takes charge of the team for the third time, rejecting offers from Benfica and Sporting.

1983: In December, an oncological illness forces Pedroto to step away from the bench, but he remains officially as coach until the end of the season; the club wins the Super Cup and the Portuguese Cup.

1984: In June, he is decorated by the President of the Republic with the rank of Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique; in November, António Ramalho Eanes visits him at home.

1985: He dies on January 7, at less than 56 years old; Porto paid tribute to him with an impressive popular mobilization during the funeral ceremonies.

ForeverForty-one years after his death, José Maria Pedroto continues to be the subject of numerous tributes. Posthumously, he was awarded the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Merit, granted by President Mário Soares. FC Porto erected a bust in his honor, initially placed at the Antas and later moved to the Dragão, where the press conference auditorium also bears his name. There are also ten public streets named José Maria Pedroto in various locations across the country: Almada, Amadora, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Lamego, Maia, Odivelas, Oeiras, Porto, Sintra, and Vila Nova de Gaia.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.