Branco (footballer)

Brazilian footballer and manager (born 1964)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Vaz and the second or paternal family name is Leal.

Branco

Brescia Calcio 1986-87

Personal information
Full name|  Cláudio Ibrahim Vaz Leal
Date of birth|  (1964-04-04) 4 April 1964 (age 61)
Place of birth|  Bagé, Brazil
Height|  1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)|  Left back
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
1980–1982|  Internacional|  15|  (2)
1983–1986|  Fluminense|  46|  (21)
1986–1988|  → Brescia (loan)|  50|  (12)
1988–1991|  Porto|  60|  (17)
1991–1993|  Genoa|  71|  (18)
1993|  Grêmio|  6|  (1)
1994|  Fluminense|  |
1994|  Corinthians|  20|  (4)
1995|  Flamengo|  35|  (9)
1995|  Internacional|  |
1996|  Middlesbrough|  9|  (0)
1997|  Mogi Mirim|  |
1997|  NY/NJ MetroStars|  11|  (1)
1998|  Fluminense|  ?|  (?)
Total|  |  323|  (80)
International career
1985–1995|  Brazil|  72|  (9)
Managerial career
2012|  Figueirense
2013|  Sobradinho
2013|  Guarani

Medal record

Men's Football
Representing  Brazil
FIFA World Cup
Winner | 1994 |
Copa América
Winner | 1989 Brazil |
Runner-up | 1991 Chile |

* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cláudio Ibrahim Vaz Leal (born 4 April 1964), better known as Branco, is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a left back.[1] A member of the triumphant Brazilian team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Branco was a free kick specialist with accurate placing of the ball.[2]

## Club career

[edit]

At club level, Branco played for Internacional (1980–81), Fluminense (1981–86, 1994 and 1998), Brescia (1986–88), FC Porto (1988–91), Genoa (1991–93), Grêmio (1992–94), Flamengo (1995), Corinthians (1995), Middlesbrough (1996), and MetroStars (1997). Branco's late career in England and the United States was marred by weight problems.[citation needed]

During his spell at Middlesbrough he scored twice, both goals coming against Hereford in the League Cup second round, once at home in the first leg and once away in the second.[3] However, he played just nine times in the Premier League and by Christmas 1996 he had left the club on a free transfer after less than a year.[citation needed]

## International career

[edit]

Branco appeared 72 times for Brazil, between April 1985 and February 1995, and scored nine goals. He took part in three World Cups for the Seleção (1986, 1990 and 1994).[citation needed]

In the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the Brazilians were considered favourites.[4] During an injury break in the round of 16 match against Argentina, Branco drank from a water bottle provided by Argentine physio Miguel di Lorenzo. The drink was allegedly spiked with tranquillisers; two days later Branco said he felt drowsy following the drink, and Brazil were eliminated 0–1. Dubbed the "holy water" scandal by the Argentinian media, Diego Maradona later insinuated the allegation to be true in a 2004 interview.[5]

After sitting out the first four games at the 1994 World Cup, he replaced Leonardo on the left after Leonardo was banned for a deliberate elbow on Tab Ramos in the second-round game against the USA. Branco scored with a memorable late free kick from 35 metres to eliminate the Netherlands in the quarter-finals,[6] and took one of Brazil's penalties in the shootout when they beat Italy in the final. He played in a total of twelve matches in three World Cup tournaments.[citation needed]

## Manager

[edit]

As of 2006, Branco was the general manager overseeing Brazil national youth teams.[citation needed]

From 2007 to December 2009, he worked as general manager of Fluminense youth teams.[citation needed]

## Honours

[edit]

### Club

[edit]

Internacional[7]

* Campeonato Gaúcho: 1981

Fluminense[7]

* Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1984
* Campeonato Carioca: 1983, 1984, 1985

Porto[7]

* Primeira Liga: 1989–90
* Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1990

Grêmio[7]

* Campeonato Gaúcho: 1993

### International

[edit]

Brazil[7]

* FIFA World Cup: 1994
* Copa América: 1989

## References

[edit]

1. ^ da Cunha, Pedro Jorge. "Branco: "O Artur Jorge apanhou-me a imitá-lo e foi o fim do mundo"" [Branco: "Artur Jorge caught me imitating him and it was the end of the world"]. Mais Futebol (in Portuguese). Media Capital. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
2. ^ Branco Statistics Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine FIFA; Retrieved 22 January 2010
3. ^ Moore, Glenn (5 April 1997). "Leicester rely on heart to counter international art". The Independent. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
4. ^ Davison, Phil (15 March 2005). "The Maradona diet: a gastric bypass, holy water and a pinch of salt". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
5. ^ Bellos, Alex (21 January 2005). "Brazil revive drug row after 15 years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
6. ^ Branco bullet wins Cotton Bowl thriller FIFA; Retrieved 26 May 2021
7. ^ a b c d e Profile – Branco Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Sambafoot

## External links

[edit]

* Branco at National-Football-Teams.com

* v
* t
* e

1994 South American Team of the Year

* GK: Chilavert
* DF: Cafu
* DF: Ayala
* DF: Ricardo Rocha
* DF: Branco
* MF: Francescoli
* MF: Zinho
* MF: Ortega
* MF: Usuriaga
* FW: Rambert
* FW: López

Brazil squads

* v
* t
* e

Brazil squad – 1986 FIFA World Cup

* 1 Carlos
* 2 Édson
* 3 Oscar
* 4 Edinho (c)
* 5 Falcão
* 6 Júnior
* 7 Müller
* 8 Casagrande
* 9 Careca
* 10 Zico
* 11 Edivaldo
* 12 Paulo Vítor
* 13 Josimar
* 14 Júlio César
* 15 Alemão
* 16 Mauro Galvão
* 17 Branco
* 18 Sócrates
* 19 Elzo
* 20 Silas
* 21 Valdo
* 22 Leão
* Coach: Telê Santana

* v
* t
* e

Brazil squad – 1989 Copa América winners (4th title)

* 1 Taffarel
* 2 Mazinho
* 3 Mauro Galvão
* 4 André Cruz
* 5 Branco
* 6 Ricardo Gomes
* 7 Bebeto
* 8 Geovani
* 9 Valdo
* 10 Tita
* 11 Romário
* 12 Acácio
* 13 Josimar
* 14 Aldair
* 15 Alemão
* 16 Cristóvão
* 17 Dunga
* 18 Renato Gaúcho
* 19 Baltazar
* 20 Silas
* 21 Charles
* 22 Zé Carlos
* Coach: Lazaroni

* v
* t
* e

Brazil squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup

* 1 Taffarel
* 2 Jorginho
* 3 Ricardo Gomes (c)
* 4 Dunga
* 5 Alemão
* 6 Branco
* 7 Bismarck
* 8 Valdo
* 9 Careca
* 10 Silas
* 11 Romário
* 12 Acácio
* 13 Mozer
* 14 Aldair
* 15 Müller
* 16 Bebeto
* 17 Renato Gaúcho
* 18 Mazinho
* 19 Ricardo Rocha
* 20 Tita
* 21 Mauro Galvão
* 22 Zé Carlos
* Coach: Lazaroni

* v
* t
* e

Brazil squad – 1991 Copa América runners-up

* 1 Taffarel
* 2 Mazinho
* 3 Cléber
* 4 Ricardo Rocha
* 5 Mauro Silva
* 6 Branco
* 7 Renato Gaúcho
* 8 Valdir
* 9 Careca III
* 10 Neto
* 11 João Paulo
* 12 Sérgio
* 13 Cafu
* 14 Wilson Gottardo
* 15 Márcio Santos
* 16 Lira
* 17 Márcio Bittencourt
* 18 Raí
* 19 Luís Henrique
* 20 Mazinho Oliveira
* 21 Sílvio
* 22 Ronaldo
* Coach: Falcão

* v
* t
* e

Brazil squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup winners (4th title)

* 1 Taffarel
* 2 Jorginho
* 3 Ricardo Rocha
* 4 Ronaldão
* 5 Mauro Silva
* 6 Branco
* 7 Bebeto
* 8 Dunga (c)
* 9 Zinho
* 10 Raí ~~(c)~~
* 11 Romário
* 12 Zetti
* 13 Aldair
* 14 Cafu
* 15 Márcio Santos
* 16 Leonardo
* 17 Mazinho
* 18 Paulo Sérgio
* 19 Müller
* 20 Ronaldo
* 21 Viola
* 22 Gilmar
* Coach: Parreira

* v
* t
* e

Figueirense – managers

* Magno (1944)
* Saul (1960)
* Nizeta (1962–63)
* Antoninho (1973)
* Búrigo (1974–76)
* S. Lopes (1976)
* Ocimar (1976)
* Búrigo (1976)
* Áureo (1976–77)
* Décio (1977)
* Antônio J.C. (1977–78)
* Passos (1978)
* J. Ferreira (1979–80)
* Búrigo (1980)
* Otacílio (1981)
* Vieira (1981)
* Gainete (1981)
* S. Lopes (1982)
* Danilo (1983)
* Damasceno (1983)
* Balduíno (1983)
* Zé Mário (1983)
* Damasceno (1984)
* Zé Mário (1984)
* Búrigo (1984)
* Lameiro (1985)
* J. Ferreira (1986)
* Cavalheiro (1987)
* J. Espinosa (1987–88)
* Búrigo (1988–89)
* Damasceno (1989)
* Daltro (1989)
* Ademir (1990)
* S. Lopes (1990)
* Louruz (1991)
* S. Lopes (1991)
* Ademir (1991)
* Nazareno (1991–92)
* S. Lopes (1992)
* Búrigo (1992–93)
* Paiva (1993)
* Nazareno (1993)
* L.C. Cruz (1994)
* Paiva (1995)
* Nazareno (1995–96)
* Teixeira (1996)
* Búrigo (1996–97)
* S. Lopes (1997)
* Milioli (1998)
* Youssef (1998)
* Cassiá (1998–99)
* Ribeiro (2000)
* Louruz (2000–01)
* Knevitz (2001)
* Benazzi (2001)
* Neto (2001)
* Davino (2001)
* Ribeiro (2002)
* Cabralzinho (2002)
* Muricy (2002)
* Heron (2003)
* Benazzi (2003)
* Amaral c (2003)
* Neto (2003)
* L.C. Ferreira (2003)
* Dorival Jr. (2003–04)
* Comelli (2005)
* Schülle c (2005)
* M. Aurélio (2005)
* Zé Mário (2005)
* Adilson (2005–06)
* W. Lemos (2006)
* Heriberto (2006–07)
* Micale c (2007)
* M. Sérgio (2007)
* Coutinho c (2007)
* Gallo (2007–08)
* Macuglia (2008)
* PC Gusmão (2008)
* M. Sérgio (2008)
* Pintado (2008–09)
* Abelha c (2009)
* R. Fernandes (2009)
* M. Araújo (2009)
* Weber (2010)
* Goiano (2010–11)
* Jorginho (2011)
* Branco (2011–12)
* Argel (2012)
* A. Ribeiro c (2012)
* H. dos Anjos (2012)
* A. Ribeiro c (2012)
* Goiano (2012)
* F. Gil c (2012)
* Adilson (2013)
* Eutrópio (2013–14)
* Guto F. (2014)
* Argel (2014–15)
* Coutinho c (2015)
* Simões (2015)
* Coutinho (2015–16)
* Eutrópio (2016)
* Argel (2016)
* Tuca c (2016)
* Santos (2016–17)
* Coelho c (2017)
* Goiano (2017)
* Cabo (2017)
* Coelho c (2017)
* Cruz (2017–18)
* Micale (2018)
* Maria (2019)
* Coelho c (2019)
* Eutrópio (2019)
* Coelho c (2019)
* Pintado (2019)
* Coelho (2020)
* Elano (2020)
* Jorginho C. (2020–21)
* Jr. Rocha (2022)
* Cristóvão (2023)
* Bazolli c (2023)
* R. Fonseca (2023)
* Baier (2023)
* Burse (2024)
* Carpegiani c (2024)
* T. Carvalho (2025)
* Carpegiani c (2025)
* Pintado (2025)
* Sizenando (2025–)

(c) = caretaker manager

* v
* t
* e

Guarani – managers

* Begliomini (1959)
* Brocchi c (1959)
* Godê c (1959)
* Avelino (1959)
* Godê c (1959–60)
* Renganeschi (1960–61)
* Godê c (1961)
* Tim (1961–63)
* Godê (1963)
* Renganeschi (1963–64)
* Dorival (1965)
* Godê (1965)
* González (1966)
* Godê (1966)
* Zakia (1966)
* Dorival (1966)
* Aparecido (1967)
* Godê c (1967)
* Alfredinho (1967)
* Wilson (1968)
* Dorival (1968)
* Minelli (1969)
* Godê (1969)
* Renganeschi (1969–71)
* Zé Duarte c (1971)
* Daltro (1972)
* Zé Duarte (1972–75)
* Pires de Toledo c (1975)
* Tim (1975)
* Pires de Toledo c (1975)
* Lameiro (1975–76)
* Dorival (1976)
* P. Emilio (1977)
* Dorival c (1977)
* P. Amaral (1977)
* Adaílton c (1977)
* Buzetto (1977)
* C.A. Silva (1978–79)
* Garcia (1980)
* Adaílton c (1980)
* Castilho (1980)
* Zé Duarte (1980–82)
* Queiroz c (1982)
* J. Teixeira (1982)
* Queiroz (1982)
* C. Duarte (1983)
* Gimenez c (1983)
* Andrade (1983)
* Gimenez (1983)
* C.A. Silva (1984)
* Sandri (1985)
* Candinho (1985)
* Maffia c (1985)
* Sandri (1985–86)
* P. Leão (1986)
* Gainete (1986–87)
* Pires de Toledo c (1987)
* Lazaroni (1987)
* Zé Duarte (1987)
* P. Leão c (1987)
* Rocha (1987)
* Carbone (1988)
* Eli Carlos (1988)
* Lino c (1989)
* Dimas c (1989)
* Evaristo (1989)
* Dimas c (1989)
* Peres (1989)
* Dimas c (1989)
* Cilinho (1989–90)
* Dimas c (1990)
* Eli Carlos (1990)
* Dimas c (1990)
* Zé Duarte (1990)
* Pepe (1991)
* E. Leão (1991)
* Milton c (1991)
* Zanatta (1991)
* Milton c (1991)
* Luxemburgo (1991)
* Milton (1991)
* Fito (1992)
* Nelsinho (1992)
* Flamarion (1992–93)
* Milton c (1993)
* Capitão c (1993)
* Carlinhos (1993)
* Oscar (1994)
* Candinho (1994)
* Milton c (1994)
* Culpi (1994)
* C.A. Silva (1994)
* Vadão (1995)
* Givanildo (1995)
* Celinho c (1995)
* Pepe (1995)
* Gersinho c (1995)
* Nicanor (1995)
* Ramírez (1996)
* Gersinho c (1996)
* Fito (1996)
* Cabralzinho (1996)
* Carlinhos (1996)
* Colegiado (1996)
* Leal (1996)
* Piza (1996)
* Carbone (1996)
* C.A. Silva (1996)
* Geninho (1997)
* Abel (1997)
* Muricy (1997)
* L. Pereira (1997)
* Vadão (1997–98)
* E. Soares (1998–99)
* C.A. Silva (1999)
* Gomes (2000)
* Carbone (2000)
* Pereyra (2000)
* C.A. Silva (2000–01)
* H. dos Anjos (2001)
* L.C. Ferreira (2001)
* Zé Mário (2001–02)
* Picerni (2002)
* Giba (2003)
* Neto c (2003)
* Pepe (2003)
* L.C. Barbieri (2003–04)
* Santana (2004)
* Lino c (2003)
* Zetti (2004)
* Sandri (2004)
* Agnaldo (2004)
* Renato c (2004)
* Picerni (2004–05)
* Flamarion (2005)
* Serrão (2005)
* L.C. Ferreira (2005–06)
* Renato c (2006)
* Cerezo (2006)
* Waguinho (2006)
* Gainete (2006)
* L.C. Barbieri (2006)
* Waguinho (2006–07)
* Carbone (2007)
* Davino (2008)
* Cidinho c (2008)
* Picerni (2008)
* Luciano (2008–09)
* Cidinho c (2009)
* Macuglia (2009)
* Cidinho (2009)
* Vadão (2009–10)
* Waguinho c (2010)
* Mancini (2010)
* Argel (2010–11)
* Tadei (2011)
* Giba (2011)
* Vadão (2011–12)
* Tadei (2012)
* Zé Teodoro (2012–13)
* Branco (2013)
* P. Pereira c (2013)
* Carlinhos c (2013)
* Pugliese (2013)
* M. Fernandes (2014)
* Carlinhos c (2014)
* Piza (2014)
* Benazzi (2014)
* Veiga (2014–15)
* Ademir (2015)
* Santos (2015)
* Pintado (2015–16)
* Chamusca (2016)
* da Matta (2017)
* M. Barbieri (2017)
* Vadão (2017)
* Cabo (2017)
* Lisca (2017)
* Louzer (2018)
* Marco Antônio c (2018)
* Loss (2019)
* Marco Antônio c (2019)
* Eutrópio (2019)
* R. Fonseca (2019)
* Carpini (2019–20)
* Ben-Hur c (2020)
* Catalá (2020)
* Conceição (2020–21)
* Aal (2021)
* D. Paulista (2021–22)
* Ben-Hur c (2022)
* Chamusca (2022)
* Ben-Hur c (2022)
* Mozart (2022–23)
* M. Moura c (2023)
* Pivetti (2023)
* Ben-Hur c (2023)
* Louzer (2023–24)
* Leitão c (2024)
* Claudinei (2024)
* Jr. Rocha (2024)
* Cordeiro c (2024)
* Pintado (2024)
* Cordeiro c (2024)
* Aal (2024)
* M. Souza (2025)
* Cordeiro c (2025)
* M. Fernandes (2025)
* M. Costa (2025–)

(c) = caretaker manager
*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template