TBT #13 Lion's memories: Belmonte, state and Copa Santa Catarina champ | OneFootball

Every Thursday, Avaí Futebol Clube celebrates a former athlete who left his 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 here the story 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 from Santa Catarina of all time HERE, #09 B0ALDUÍNO – The Little King, Santa Catarina Champion of 1973 and 1975 HERE, #010 ZENON – Santa Catarina Champion of 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 publisher Dois Por Quatro, 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 became Santa Catarina Champion in 1988 and 1997, two important titles won at Ressacada. He also won the Copa Santa Catarina in 1995. On two occasions, he was runner-up in the Santa Catarina state championship, in 1985 and 1992.“Both state titles were very important, especially the one in 1988, but one title that really marked me was the 1995 Copa Santa Catarina. Only we know what that achievement was like. The difficulties of that year and the overcoming shown by all the players and staff,” said Belmonte.

In 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 from 2002 onward worked in Avaí’s youth academy, where he won the youth title in 2003 and the junior title in 2003, 2005 and 2008. On two occasions, he took charge of Avaí’s professional 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 was president of AGAP, the Santa Catarina Professional Athlete Support Association. He is part of Avaí Master, where to this day he plays in exhibition matches presenting Avaí idols, taking Avaí’s name wherever the Master team plays.

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

“Avaí changed my life. I was just a kid, a 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 learned a lot here. I had some understanding of football, and Avaí shaped my life as a man. That is why I have great love and 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 conducted 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 categories.

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, responsible for 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 largest crowd in the history of football in Santa Catarina. All to see the champion Lion.

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 field and beside the heavy trophy that is kept at the Athletes Memorial at Ressacada.

Still on the field, the champions were able to watch footage of the decisive match on the big screen, when the Lion defeated Blumenau 2-1, with goals by 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 the following gentlemen: 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 athletes who won the 1997 Santa Catarina Championship. The ceremony took place during 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 30 years.

The players, directors and technical staff received a diploma commemorating the title. On the occasion, acting president Dr. Nílton Machado and the club directors presented the tribute.

On June 22, 1997, in front of approximately 22,850 fans, Avaí defeated Tubarão 2-0, making striker Jacaré the hero of the night by scoring both goals and confirming himself as the top scorer of the Santa Catarina Championship, with 13 goals. With the win, Avaí became the 1997 Santa Catarina Champion.

The Leão da Ilha 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.

Technical 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 the fans to remember a little of that campaign: in the first half of the competition, Avaí finished the group stage 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-half final, Avaí drew the first match 2-2 and won at home 2-1, becoming first-half champions and securing a place in the grand final of the championship.

In the second half, the Avaí team finished 5th, with 13 points, missing out on the final four of the second half, which was made up of the teams: Chapecoense, Figueirense, Joinville and Tubarão.Tubarão came out on top in the final against Joinville, thus earning the right to contest the Santa Catarina championship title with Avaí.

In the first leg 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 for the segment YOUR BEAUTIFUL PAST, on TV Avaí, now Avaí Play, the YouTube channel. 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:

CHECK OUT SOME PHOTOS OF BELMONTE BELOW

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

Photo: Polidoro Júnior Collection

Avaí U-20 squad, 2005 Santa Catarina Champions

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 lifted by the fans after winning the 2005 Santa Catarina U-20 Championship title

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

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

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

Barbecue gathering offered by ASSTA – Associação Social e Cultural dos Torcedores do Avaí, to the 2025 Santa Catarina U-20 Champions.

In the photo, standing: Gustavo Santos, Sandro Zunino (Youth Director), Eduardo (Foca / fitness coach), Krika, Fabiano Pierri (Youth Coord.), 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 U-20 squad, 2008 Santa Catarina Champions

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 U-20 Championship 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 entered the field after the match to hug 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, alongside fitness coach Eduardo Gaspar

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

Belmonte receives from the hands of Manoel de Paula, president of LIFF – Liga Florianopolitana de Futebol -, his Avaí former-player ID card

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

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. The Team of Grit – Almanac of 90 years of Avaí Futebol Clube, 1923-2013.    –– KLÜSER, Adalberto; MATOS, Felipe. and DIAMANTARAS, Spyros. AVAÍ F.C. 100 years of stories 1923 – 2023    – Photo collection 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.