THE 21st CENTURY ONLINE AWARDS NOMINEES FOR BEST FOOTBALL [SOCCER PLAYER] OF THE DECADE [CENTURY].

Socrates Brasiliero sampaio de Souza viera de oliveira

Date of birth - 19 February 1954

Place of birth - Belém, Pará, Brazil

Date of death - 4 December 2011 (aged 57)

Place of death - São Paulo, Brazil

Height - 1.92 m (6 ft 31⁄2 in)

Position(s) - Attacking midfielder

[attacking midfielder] - brazil.

Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, (19 February 1954 – 4 December 2011),

simply known as Sócrates, was a Brazilian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. His medical degree and his political awareness, combined with style and quality of his play, earned him the nickname "Doctor Socrates".

Easily recognizable for his beard and headband, Sócrates became the "symbol of cool for a whole generation of football supporters". He is considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. In 1983, he was named South American Footballer of the Year. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

Socrates played for Brazil for seven years, scoring 22 goals and representing the nation in two World Cups. He captained the team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup; playing in midfield alongside Zico, Falcão, Toninho Cerezo and Éder, considered one of the greatest Brazilian national teams ever. He also appeared in the 1979 and 1983 Copa América. At club level, Sócrates played for Botafogo-SP before joining Corinthians in 1978. He moved to Italy to play for Fiorentina, returning to Brazil in 1985 to end his career.

Curtesy The Caffe Fashion Blog Global "&" Universal.