Mane Garrincha - The Joy of the People

Manuel Francisco dos Santos, known worldwide as Garrincha – meaning little bird – was born in Pau Grande, a district in Magé located in the state of Rio de Janeiro on October 28th in 1933. He was born with several defects: His right leg bent inwards, his left leg was 6 cm shorter and curved outwards and his spine was also deformed.

None of these though prevented him from going on to play football and capturing the hearts of many with his flamboyance and style.

He wasn’t really blessed with luck, he had his birth defects and an alcoholic father, a problem that he would go on to inherit. He turned the bad into the wonderful. He had obvious footballing talent as a child but didn’t become a professional until late on in his teens. He joined Botafogo in 1953 from Pau Grande youth team and it was there at Botafogo where he’d go on to become a great.

He was an exceptional player. He had pace, skill, control, flair and all the other attributes that define the world renowned Latin Americans. He was an innovator. If it wasn’t for him we may never have seen players such as Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar and many others. He created a legacy just by playing the sport and showcasing a level of excellence that could be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.

Often regarded as the “Greatest dribbler of all time”, I do wonder why he never comes into the equation when comparing the likes of Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Pelé and the other usual suspects. Many would say Garrincha is the greatest Brazilian of all time so it wouldn’t be so far-fetched to name him among the greats and maybe call him the best ever.

Garrincha’s first professional club was Brazilian side Botafogo, where he spent 12 years. He impressed in his first training session, his unbelievable skill was shown when he dribbled the ball through the legs of his team-mate, and Brazilian international, Nilton Santos. Santos then demanded he was given a call up. Garrincha made his professional first-team début against Bonsucesso on July 29, 1953 where he scored a hat-trick.

For the international side he was pivotal in Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 World Cup wins, where he was voted the best player of World Cup ’62. He was capped 50 times by his country and when he and Pelé were both in the same lineup, Brazil never lost a game. Now that is total domination.

His story is made more impressive when you consider his personal life; his birth defects, troubled parents and his own family. He was a father and husband by the time he signed for Botafogo. He too was alcohol dependent like his father, and after the 1958 World Cup, Garrincha put on weight which resulted in him being dropped for a friendly match vs England in 1959.

In the same month of the friendly, Garrincha went on tour with his club to Sweden and ended up impregnating a local female. He then returned home to Pau Grande and, whilst under the influence of alcohol, went for a drive and ran over his father. He left the scene without stopping and was found by locals later on.

His life was one of trauma. A drink fuelled existence that led to several road collisions, including a crash which killed his mother-in-law. He was married twice and fathered 8 daughters with one wife, and from several affairs he is reported to have fathered a staggering 36 kids.

It is remarkable to think of what he faced. But it never stopped him playing. He had a love for football which was evident in his play, a phenomenal player who’s loved all round the world.

It was an intriguing, inspiring and painful story which ended in deep sadness. Garrincha died on January 19, 1983, from cirrhosis of the liver in an alcoholic coma in Rio de Janeiro.

He had been in hospital 8 times the previous year and was in clear physical trouble before his passing. His last few years are not very well known about, he was, as described by many, a forgotten hero. But his funeral was attended by a vast number of fans, his former team-mates and fellow professionals joined his family in remembering him and paying their last respects.

His tombstone was in scripted with the words: “Here rests in peace the one who was the Joy of the People – Mané Garrincha.”

Following his death, a multi-use stadium was named after him, Estádio Mané Garrincha (later renamed to Estádio Nacional de Brasília), and so to was the Estádio do Maracanã home dressing room, known as “Garrincha, ” with the away being known as “Pelé.”

It is so easy to dwell on the sadness, but it’s so much more enjoyable to dwell on the happiness. The memories he left behind, the feelings of joy he would give and the excitement he’d bring when he crossed the white lines.

I was born in 1995 so clearly I have no first-hand recollection of Garrincha, however, as a fan of Brazilian football I was always intrigued by Pelé. I would read stories of Pelé and learn about Garrincha whilst doing so.

I watched clips of Brazil’s 1950s World Cup squads and players like Vavá & Pelé would stand out, but Garrincha’s playing style was something to behold and I’m thankful it was all captured on film for later generations to enjoy.

I hope what’s written above has captured the great, and bad, of Garrincha’s life, playing style and a bit about his career also. Etched into the memory of football fans all around the world, Manuel Francisco dos Santos is rightfully labeled “Alegria do Povo”.

Written by Ryan GoodenoughFollow me on Twitter @RealYoungGunner