Palmeiras' Second Academy idol dies at 76 | OneFootball

Brazilian football lost one of its great names this Thursday (04). Leivinha, a historic Palmeiras idol and one of the main players of the so-called Second Academy, died at the age of 76, leaving behind a career marked by talent, titles, and unforgettable moments in the green-and-white shirt.

Career

Born in Novo Horizonte, in the countryside of São Paulo, João Leiva Campos Filho, known as Leivinha, showed a close connection with the ball from an early age. At 15, he began his football journey in Lins, a neighboring city to his hometown. Love for the sport ran in the family: his twin brothers, Dadá and Didi, also went on to become professional players.

His standout performances at Linense opened the doors to Portuguesa in 1966. Still young, Leivinha seized his chance when two starters were injured and impressed right away in his first training sessions, scoring four goals and earning a place in Lusa’s main squad. His performances caught Palmeiras’ attention, and the club signed him a few years later.

At Verdão, Leivinha experienced the peak of his career. With his refined skill, tactical intelligence, excellent presence in the box, and one of the best headers in Brazilian football, he became a key figure in the Second Academy, one of the most talented teams in the club’s history.

During four and a half years with Palmeiras, he won two Brazilian Championships and two São Paulo State Championships, in addition to several national and international tournaments. His ability to decide matches and his versatility made him one of the leading names of the generation that captivated the country in the first half of the 1970s.

To this day, Leivinha ranks among Palmeiras’ all-time top scorers and is among the five players who scored the most goals for the club in Brazilian Championships. The eternal No. 8 also took on a leading role in attack when César Maluco was sidelined due to suspension, guiding the team masterfully.

One of the most remarkable episodes of his career took place in the 1971 São Paulo State Championship final. Against São Paulo, Leivinha scored a legitimate header, but referee Armando Marques disallowed the goal, claiming a handball. The mistake went down in history as one of the most controversial refereeing decisions in Brazilian football and is still remembered by Palmeiras fans to this day.

In 1974, he was called up to represent the Brazilian National Team at the World Cup held in West Germany.

The following year, after winning the Ramón de Carranza Trophy in Spain, Leivinha was transferred to Atlético de Madrid alongside center-back Luis Pereira. In the final of the competition, Palmeiras beat Real Madrid 3-1, with one of the goals scored by the Brazilian star himself. The move also had special meaning: it allowed him to fulfill the promise he had made to his Spanish grandfather to play professionally in the European country.

In Spain, he continued to win admirers, but physical problems ultimately cut his career short. Leivinha retired from football prematurely at the age of 29.

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