Episode 22: Garrincha - The Triumph and Tragedy of Brazil's Forgotten Football Hero

In Episode 22, we review the biography of Manuel Francisco dos Santos - Garrincha to you and I. In a Dylan goes electric moment for the Bookmen, this is our first biography, as opposed to autobiography. And it's a good one. 

 

Garrincha - which means Little Bird - is remembered by Brazil of being even better than Pele. The grandchild of slaves, born with a curved spine, he led Brazil to their first world cups - in 1958 and 1962. '62 was also the year he met samba star, Elza Soares and left his wife and eight daughters, that’s right, eight daughters. And it was the year that his tale turned from triumph to tragedy. 

 

Shunned by Brazilian society for his illicit love of Elza, crippled by injury and alcoholism, his career and life fell apart. He died in 1983, a broken man, but not before being stripped naked by the Brazilian military, getting run out of his home country, and even killing his own mother-in-law. 

 

It’s a sad story certainly, but it's one worth hearing. Check out Episode 22 of the Ademola Bookmen Podcast – Garrincha!