Chennai: If you are an ardent football fan and still don’t know who Manuel Francisco dos Santos was, don’t lose heart. Relax if you have no clue about Arthur Antunes Coimbra either. At the same time, your passion for football will come under scrutiny if you confess ignorance about Garrincha and Zico.
Manuel Francisco dos Santos was the original name of the incomparable Garrincha and Zico is the moniker of Arthur Antunes Coimbra. Welcome to the exotic world of Brazilian nicknames.
As the Fifa World Cup returns to its spiritual home after 64 years, it would be appropriate to probe Brazil’s penchant for nicknames.
In his wonderful book Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life, Alex Bellos has delved into the subject. According to him, even former Brazilian president Luis Inacio da Silva ensured that his nickname ‘Lula’ was printed on the ballot papers to let the voters know who he was.
Bellos quotes a well-known writer in Brazil to drive home the point that nicknames “are a historical relic from the times of slavery.”
Even today some nicknames refer to a person’s race and region. But the habit whose origins aren’t something to be celebrated is a badge of honour for many now. Kaka, who didn’t rise to stardom from rags, is the nickname of Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite. After his younger brother couldn’t pronounce Ricardo, the AC Milan star became Kaka.
The most famous pet name in Brazilian football is, of course, Pele. The short and sweet name conjures up myriad images in mind, and is evocative of his football prowess.
Many people know — thanks to a staple question in school quizzes — that it was Edson Arantes do Nascimento who made his name as Pele. But not many may be aware that Pele’s pet name at home when he was young was Dico. When he joined Santos, it became Gasolina (gasoline). According to Bellos, Pele doesn’t have specific meaning in Portuguese. It does, however, add to the legend’s mystique.
The common suffixes ao, inho and zinho refer to sizes in Brazil. Ronaldao is big, Ronaldo has a normal physique, Ronaldinho is a small guy and Ronaldinhozinho is even smaller.
From animals to countries to physical qualities, a host of items inspire nicknames. In Brazilian football, forwards are invariably known by different, short, peppy names. It reflects people’s affection for goal-scorers.
Defenders aren’t as fortunate because they aren’t involved in creative work. For instance, Marcelo, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva and David Luiz — all first XI certainties in the backline of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s 2014 squad — don’t have nicknames.
Brazil’s achievements in the World Cup are well documented. The five-time champions have also garnered attention through the wonderful names of their players. Didi, Vava, Garrincha, Pele, Tostao, Rivelino, Jairzinho, Falcao, Eder, Careca, Zico, Kaka, Fred — the list goes on.
