Julinho (footballer, born 1929)

Júlio Botelho, also known as Julinho (; 29 July 1929 – 10 January 2003) is a former Brazilian football player. He has played for the Brazil national team. He was nominated as the best player in the history of Italy's Fiorentina in 1996, helping to win a scudetti. He was recognised one of the finest wingers in Serie A history. He had 24 caps for Brazil and he netted 11 goals. He was regarded one of the best players at the World Cup Finals in 1954. He turned down a chance to play in the 1958 World Cup Finals in Sweden, giving the way for Garrincha to shine in the Finals. Known for his dribbling ability and powerful shot, A highly creative, talented, and dynamic player, with a slender build, Julinho usually played as a right winger, where he operated as a playmaker, and was known for his speed, vision, tactical sense, powerful shooting ability, and dribbling skills. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and considered as one of Brazil's best wingers ever.

Club career
Julinho started his career with Corinthians and soon switched to Portuguesa. In his second game for the club, he already scored two goals, against America. After winning the Torneio Rio-São Paulo with Portuguesa in 1955, he was sold to the European Fiorentina for USD 5,500 and was a key player in winning the title in 1956. In 1957 he played with Fiorentina in the final of the European Cup I, which they lost to Real Madrid. In 1996, he was named the best player in Fiorentina's history. In 1958 he returned to Brazil to play for Palmeiras. He won the Campeonato Paulista twice there and in 1960 the club became the second Brazilian national champion.

International career
He also played for the national team, including at the 1954 World Cup. He scored in the group stage against Mexico and in the quarterfinals in the violent match that went down in history as the Battle of Bern. In 1958, he declined an invitation to play at the World Cup because he was playing in Italy at the time and felt that only players from the Brazilian league should be selected.  He was also a member of the squad that won the 1952 Panamerican Championship, and that finished as runners-up in the 1953 South American Championship and the 1964 Taça das Nações, he played 24 matches with 11 goals.

Death
He died on January 10, 2003 due to heart problems. He was 73.

Honours

Club
Portuguesa
 Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1952, 1955

Fiorentina
 Serie A: 1955–56
 European Cup: Runner-up: 1956–57

Palmeiras
 Campeonato Paulista: 1959, 1963
 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1960
 Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1965
 Copa Libertadores: Runner-up: 1968

International
 Panamerican Championship: 1952 
 South American Championship Runner-up: 1953

Individual
 World Soccer Magazine World XI: 1960
 Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame
 Inducted in ACF Fiorentina Hall of Fame

References

Category:1929 births
Category:2003 deaths
Category:Footballers from São Paulo
Category:Brazil at the 1954 FIFA World Cup