TBT #13 Lion memories: Belmonte, double state champion and Copa SC winner | OneFootball

Every Thursday, Avaí Futebol Clube celebrates a former player who left a mark on the club’s century-long history. We remember stars who brought us so much joy wearing the blue and white colors.

In the 13th edition, we will look back at BELMONTE, two-time Santa Catarina state champion (1988 and 1997) and Copa Santa Catarina champion (1995).

Leading the line is Belmonte, followed by Maurício, Netinho, Marcos Severo and Almir Gil

Photo: Polidoro Júnior Collection

We have already covered the stories of:#01 ROGÉRIO ÁVILA – HERE#02 CAVALLAZZI – The Golden Boy - HERE#03 FLÁVIO ROBERTO – 1988 champion - HERE#04 JUTI – The title-winning top scorer of 1975, HERE,#05 TONINHO QUINTINO – Santa Catarina Champion of 1973 HERE, #06 NZETA, four-time Santa Catarina champion HERE, #07 ADILSON HELENO – Santa Catarina Champion of 1988, HERE, #08 ADOLFINHO – The greatest goalkeeper in Santa Catarina history HERE, #09 B0ALDUÍNO – The Little King, Santa Catarina Champion in 1973 and 1975 HERE, #010 ZENON – Santa Catarina Champion in 1973 and 1975 HERE, #011 CLÉBER SANTANA – Avaí’s eternal number 88, Santa Catarina champion in 2012 HERE #012 VENEZA – The best center-back in Avaí’s history, Santa Catarina champion in 1975    Édson Luiz Benites Belmonte, better known as Belmonte, was born on August 31, 1963, in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul. He played as a defensive midfielder / midfielder and wore the Avaí shirt 295 times. He scored three goals. He is the 4th player with the most appearances for Avaí in the club’s century-long history, according to data published in the book AVAÍ F.C. 100 anos de histórias 1923 – 2023, by Dois Por Quatro publishing house, written by Adalberto Jorge Klüser, Felipe Matos and Spyros Apóstolo Diamantaras.A player who stood out for his leadership on and off the field, showing grit in every challenge during matches. A leader who helped the team achieve many victories and three titles. He played for Avaí from 1985 to 1988, in 1992, and from 1995 to 1997. At Avaí, he won the Santa Catarina Championship in 1988 and 1997, two major titles won at Ressacada. He also won the Copa Santa Catarina in 1995. On two occasions, he finished as runner-up in the Santa Catarina Championship, in 1985 and 1992.“The two state titles were very important, especially the one in 1988, but one title that really stayed with me was the 1995 Copa Santa Catarina. Only we know what that achievement was like. The difficulties of that year and the resilience of all the players and staff,” said Belmonte.

During his professional playing career, he also had spells with São Borja-RS, Joinville-SC, Marcílio Dias-SC, Ypiranga-RS, Brasil de Farroupilha-RS, Vitória-BA and Atlético Hermann Aichinger-SC.

After retiring in 1998 with Tiradentes-SC, he took a coaching course and, starting in 2002, worked in Avaí’s youth academy, where he won the youth title in 2002 and the junior title in 2003, 2005 and 2008. On two occasions, he took charge of Avaí’s first team, in 2004 and 2005. He also coached Atlético Hermann Aichinger-SC, Juventus-SC, Hercílio Luz-SC and Guarani da Palhoça-SC.

Off the field, he served as president of AGAP, the Association for the Support of Professional Athletes of Santa Catarina. He is part of Avaí Master, where to this day he takes part in exhibition matches featuring Avaí idols, carrying Avaí’s name wherever the Master team plays.

Currently, Belmonte works at Flamengo Biguaçu School, located at Rua José Graciliano da Silveira, no. 104, Rio Caveiras neighborhood, Biguaçu-SC.

“Avaí changed my life. I was just a kid, a young boy. I came from the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul. I arrived here at 20 years old and, from then on, I began to truly understand football. I came from a small team and I learned so much here. I had some idea of football, and Avaí shaped my life as a man. That is why I have great love and deep affection for this club,” Belmonte said.AVAIANA SELECTIONBelmonte was responsible for carrying out the Seleção Avaiana project, which began in 2011. The project aimed to discover new talents through evaluations carried out by him throughout Greater Florianópolis, as well as in states in southern Brazil. Thousands of boys were evaluated. Dozens were selected and joined the club’s youth academy.

WALK OF FAME

Belmonte (R), with Jacaré, after immortalizing their feet on the Walk of Fame

Photo: Jamira Furlani / Avaí F.C.

On September 1, 2012, Belmonte had his feet immortalized on the Walk of Fame at the Adolfinho Athletes Memorial, at Ressacada. Alongside Belmonte, another idol also immortalized his feet: Jacaré.

TRIBUTE TO THE 1988 CHAMPIONS

Adenir, in charge of the pitch, Adilson Heleno, Pereirinha (masseur), Flávio Roberto and Belmonte, at the tribute to the 1988 champions

Photo: Daniel Queiroz

On July 13, 2013, Avaí Futebol Clube paid tribute to the 1988 champions, the first title of the Ressacada Era and the 12th in the club’s history. Officially, 25,735 people bought tickets for that match, but the stadium was completely packed with more than 32,000 Avaí fans, the biggest crowd in the history of football in Santa Catarina. All to see the champion Leão.

On that occasion, most of the players came to Ressacada for the tribute. The 1988 champions received a special diploma for winning the championship on the edge of the pitch, beside the heavy trophy now kept at the Ressacada Athletes Memorial.

Still on the field, the champions were able to watch footage of the decisive match on the big screen, when Leão defeated Blumenau 2-1, with goals from Marcos Severo and Adílson Heleno.

The following players attended the tribute: Almir Gil, Belmonte, Betinho, Biguaçu, Celinho, Falcão, Flávio Roberto, Márcio, Marcos Severo, Nalbi, Netinho, Rogério and Sérgio Márcio. Also present were: Sérgio Lopes (coach), João Carlos Dias (football director), Ceará (Ressacada administrator), Duca (kit man), Pereirinha (masseur) and Nílsão (goalkeeper coach).

Felipe Aliano, Fossati’s godson, received the tribute on behalf of the Uruguayan goalkeeper, as did Mariana Secco Cardoso (representing her father, doctor José Carlos Cardoso), Seu Raimundo, father of center-back Maurício, and Seu Delo, an Avaí employee and brother of assistant masseur Altamiro Mendes.

Also part of that team and technical staff were: Adílson Gomes, Adílson Heleno, Elísio, Gílson, J.J. Rodriguez, Ivan Formiga, Mendonça, Nelsinho, Nena, Prê, Teffo, Umberto and Vanderlei, Atílio Ancheta (assistant coach), Nelson Neves (fitness coach) and Nilson Fidélis, known as Pico, president.

TRIBUTE TO THE 1997 CHAMPIONSOn October 8, 2013, Avaí paid tribute to the players who won the 1997 Santa Catarina Championship. The ceremony took place at halftime of the match Avaí 1×0 Sport-PE, in the 28th round of that year’s Série B. In 2027, this achievement will mark its 30th anniversary.

The players, directors and coaching staff received a commemorative diploma for the title. On the occasion, acting president Dr. Nílton Machado and the club’s directors presented the tribute.

On June 22, 1997, in front of approximately 22,850 fans, Avaí beat Tubarão 2-0, crowning striker Jacaré as the hero of the night after he scored both goals and secured the top scorer award in the Santa Catarina Championship, with 13 goals. With the victory, Avaí became the 1997 Santa Catarina Champion.

Leão da Ilha’s squad in the 1997 Santa Catarina Championship was made up of the following players: Carlão, Rudimar, Denis, Cedenyr, Itá, Viola, Cláudio, Raul, Altair, Fabiano, Evandro Guimarães, Evandro, Régis, Dirlei, Belmonte, Ney, Roberto Cavalo, Helton, Marcelo Vidal, Fantick, Claudiomir, Dão, Jacaré, Eliandro, Sandro Silva, Luis Carlos Gaúcho, Neto, Diego, Arthur, Pirilo and Décio Antônio.

Coaching staff: Gonzaga Milioli, Décio Antônio, Stélio Serafim, Marcelo Nunes, Nilsão, Duca, Pereirinha, Dr. José Carlos Cardoso, Izazé and Báu. Board: Flávio Félix, Lourival Amorim, Ronaldo Hipólito, João Carlos Dias and Vilmar Reinert.TO REMEMBER IS TO LIVE!For fans to remember a little of that campaign: in the first stage, Avaí finished the group phase in first place with 16 points. The final four also included the following teams: Atlético Alto Vale, Blumenau and Chapecoense. When they faced Chapecoense in the first-stage final, Avaí drew the first match 2-2 and won at home 2-1, becoming first-stage champion and securing a place in the championship final.

In the second stage, the Avaí side finished 5th with 13 points, missing out on the final four of the second stage, which featured Chapecoense, Figueirense, Joinville and Tubarão.Tubarão came out on top in the final against Joinville, earning the right to face Avaí for the Santa Catarina championship title.

In the first match of the final, in Tubarão, it ended 0-0. At Ressacada, the celebration was complete with a 2-0 win, both goals scored by Jacaré.

YOUR BEAUTIFUL PASTOn July 21, 2022, Belmonte was interviewed by journalist Rafael Xavier on the TV Avaí segment SEU BELO PASSADO, now Avaí Play, on YouTube. In the interview, Belmonte talks about the beginning of his career, his arrival at Avaí and the titles he won. A relaxed chat, full of curiosities that are part of Belmonte’s history at Avaí. Watch the full interview below:

CHECK OUT SOME PHOTOS OF BELMONTE BELOW

Referee José Carlos Bezerra talks with Uruguayan full-back JJ Rodriguez, watched by Falcão (11) and Belmonte (5). Defender Léo (on the right side of the photo) is moving away from the play. Vilson Tadei, captain of the black-and-white side, waits to take the free kick

Photo: Polidoro Júnior Collection

Avaí Under-20 squad, Santa Catarina Champions 2005

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 12/17/2005

Standing: Marcinho (kit man), Africano (assistant coach), Belmonte (coach), Andréa Pesca (psychologist), Fabiano Pierri (youth coordinator), Renato Targino (fitness coach) and Eduardo Gaspar (fitness coach).

Crouching: Sandro Zunino, youth director, and Sandro Daros, goalkeeper coach.

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 12/17/2005

Belmonte, in an interview with journalist Zé Paulo Reitz

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 12/17/2005

Belmonte carried by the fans after winning the 2005 Santa Catarina Under-20 Championship title

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 12/17/2005

Captain Eliandro lifts the 2005 Santa Catarina Under-20 Championship trophy

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 12/17/2005

Celebration barbecue offered by ASSTA – Social and Cultural Association of Avaí Supporters, to the 2025 Santa Catarina Under-20 Champions.

In the photo, standing: Gustavo Santos, Sandro Zunino (youth director), Eduardo (Foca / fitness coach), Krika, Fabiano Pierri (youth coordinator), Ademir (masseur), Andréia (psychologist), Eliandro, Sanderson and Belmonte.

Crouching: Cristiano (Timão), Breno, Fábio Fidelis, Robson, João Paulo, Saulo and Roni.

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 12/20/2005

Avaí Under-20 squad, Santa Catarina Champions 2008

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 11/04/2008

Champions’ celebration at Ressacada

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 11/04/2008

Belmonte with Delfin (FCF president), before the presentation of the 2008 Santa Catarina Under-20 Champions trophy

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 11/04/2008

Champion coach Belmonte with his son Edson Belmonte Filho, who was in the stands and came onto the field after the game to embrace his father

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 11/04/2008

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 11/04/2008

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 08/05/2006

Belmonte, wearing a training bib, beside fitness coach Eduardo Gaspar

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 04/13/2007

Belmonte receives from Manoel de Paula, president of LIFF – Florianópolis Football League –, his former Avaí player ID card

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. (09/01/2007)

The Avaí team that drew 2-2 with Figueirense at CT da Palhoça

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Archive: 12/14/2005

RESEARCH SOURCES–– KLÜSER, Adalberto; MATOS, Felipe. and DIAMANTARAS, Spyros. O Time da Raça – Almanaque de 90 anos do Avaí Futebol Clube, 1923-2013.    –– KLÜSER, Adalberto; MATOS, Felipe. and DIAMANTARAS, Spyros. AVAÍ F.C. 100 anos de histórias 1923 – 2023    – Photo archive of Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C.– Avaí Play channel on YouTube;– Memória Avaiana website; – Official Avaí F.C. website; – Polidoro Júnior website;      – NDMais website;

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