Didi (footballer)
Didi in 1958
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Waldyr Pereira | ||
| Date of birth | 8 October 1928 | ||
| Place of birth | Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil | ||
| Date of death | 12 May 2001 (aged 72) | ||
| Place of death | Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder, Inside forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1944 | São Cristóvão | ||
| 1945 | Industrial (RJ) | ||
| 1945 | Rio Branco (RJ) | ||
| 1945–1946 | Goytacaz (RJ) | ||
| 1946 | Americano (RJ) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1946 | Americano (RJ) | ||
| 1946–1948 | Lençoense (SP) | ||
| 1948–1949 | Madureira (RJ) | ||
| 1949–1956 | Fluminense | ||
| 1957–1959 | Botafogo | ||
| 1959–1960 | Real Madrid | 19 | (6) |
| 1960–1962 | Botafogo | ||
| 1963 | Sporting Cristal | ||
| 1964 | São Paulo | ||
| 1964–1965 | Botafogo | ||
| 1965–1966 | CD Veracruz | ||
| 1966 | São Paulo | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 1952–1962 | Brazil | 68 | (20) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1962–1963 | Sporting Cristal | ||
| 1967–1968 | Sporting Cristal | ||
| 1969–1970 | Peru | ||
| 1971 | River Plate | ||
| 1972–1975 | Fenerbahçe | ||
| 1975 | Fluminense | ||
| 1977 | Cruzeiro | ||
| 1978–1981 | Al-Ahli (Jeddah) | ||
| 1981 | Botafogo | ||
| 1981 | Cruzeiro | ||
| 1985 | Fortaleza | ||
| 1986 | São Paulo | ||
| 1986 | Alianza Lima | ||
| 1989–1990 | Bangu | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 February 2007. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 February 2007 |
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Waldyr Pereira (8 October 1928 – 12 May 2001), nicknamed Didi (Portuguese pronunciation: [dʒiˈdʒi]), was a Brazilian footballer who played as a midfielder or as a forward. He played in three FIFA World Cups (1954, 1958, and 1962), winning the latter two and was named the tournament's best player in 1958.
A tall and elegant player, Didi is considered to be one of the greatest midfielders in the history of the sport, and was renowned for his range of passing, stamina and technique; he was nicknamed the "Ethiopian Prince" throughout his career. A dead-ball specialist, he became famous for inventing the folha seca (dry leaf) free kicks, notably used by modern-day players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Juninho, where the ball would swerve downward unexpectedly at a point resulting in a goal.
Didi was born into a poor family in the city of Campos, 150 miles north of Rio de Janeiro. As a youngster, he sold peanuts in order to help his family, and began playing football in the streets.
Didi nearly had his right leg amputated when he was 14 due to a severe infection following an injury to his knee. He recovered and played for some clubs in Campos dos Goytacazes. He became professional playing for Americano de Campos and came to prominence when he joined Fluminense in 1949. During seven seasons with the club he won the Campeonato carioca in 1951 and 1952 Copa Rio.
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