Zito (footballer)

Zito

Zito on the 50th anniversary of Brazil winning the 1958 FIFA World Cup Final
Personal information
Full name	José Ely de Miranda
Date of birth	8 August 1932
Place of birth	Roseira, São Paulo, Brazil
Date of death	14 June 2015 (aged 82)
Place of death	Santos, Brazil
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
1948–1950	Roseira
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1950–1952	Taubaté
1952–1967	Santos	727	(57)
National team
1955–1964	Brazil	52	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

José Ely de Miranda (8 August 1932 – 14 June 2015), commonly known as Zito, was a Brazilian footballer who played as a midfielder.

His club career was spent mostly in the service of Santos, captaining a side including Pelé to domestic and international successes. He was also part of the Brazilian squads which won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962.

After his retirement as a player, Zito remained at Santos as a director and youth coordinator, developing several young future international players.

Born in Roseira, São Paulo, Zito initially intended to become a schoolteacher, and attended technical schools in his hometown, before pursuing a career as a footballer.

Zito joined Santos in 1952, after finishing his formation at hometown amateur club Roseira FC, and spending two years at Taubaté. He made his debut for Peixe on 29 June 1952 in a 3–1 friendly win against Madureira.

Zito appeared regularly for Santos in the following 15 years, playing 733 games and scoring 57 goals. He was the captain of the Os Santásticos team of the late 1950s and 1960s, playing alongside Pelé, Pepe and other Brazilian stars.

Zito was nicknamed Gerente (manager in Portuguese) by the media during his playing days, due to helping the manager Lula while outfields. Despite missing the two last games of 1963 Intercontinental Cup due to an injury, he acted as Lula's assistant during both matches as his team won the second title in a row.