Brazil legend dubbed ‘the animal’ bought monkey drunk on whiskey at son’s birthday

Brazilian legends Romario, Rivaldo and Ronaldo are rightly remembered throughout the globe for his or her marvellous footballing abilities.

Yet there was one other lesser recognized expertise taking part in alongside them in that very same period, one which drew consideration for each his immense potential and wild behaviour on and off the pitch. Meet Edmundo Alves de Souza Neto – Brazil’s journeyman and largest maverick of the Nineties.

Aptly nicknamed O Animal (The Animal) by commentator Osmar Santos, Edmundo’s fast, highly effective, skilful and artistic taking part in type was matched solely by his violent mood. He slapped opponents, clashed with team-mates and even smashed a tv digicam after he missed a penalty within the Copa Libertadores.

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Hailing from Niteroi simply exterior of Rio de Janeiro, the now 52-year-old started his profession with Vasco da Gama. He would re-join the membership 5 extra occasions over the course of his taking part in days, ultimately hanging up his boots in 2008.

Edmundo performed for a staggering 13 totally different golf equipment over 17 years. Unsurprisingly, it typically resulted in tears and controversy.

He made his debut for Brazil in 1992 as a 21-year-old and went on to make 39 appearances for the Selecao, scoring 10 occasions. His most monumental feat within the well-known yellow and blue was profitable the 1997 Copa America alongside a few of the aforementioned names, whereas he additionally suffered defeat as an alternative within the 1998 World Cup closing to France.

His first main second of controversy got here within the early Nineties when he repeatedly clashed with supervisor Wanderley Luxemburgo at Palmeiras, his second membership. The membership determined sufficient was sufficient when he bodily fought team-mate Antonio Carlos, who later rated Edmundo “10 as a player, 0 as a person”.

He’d go on to type a formidable strike partnership with Romario at Flamengo in 1995, even releasing a rap tune collectively referred to as Rap Dos Bad Boys. Despite their amicable begin, the 2 party-loving stars fell out and would go on to change bitter phrases within the press for years to come back.

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In December 2015, Edmundo skilled the darkest second in his life and profession. He killed three individuals whereas behind the wheel of his Fiat on the best way again from the Rio Carnival, together with his passenger, who was a younger girl.

Eyewitnesses claimed he was rushing, whereas others mentioned that they had seen him drink massive portions of alcohol at a nightclub beforehand. Initially convicted of ‘culpable homicide’, or involuntary manslaughter, he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail however bought away from doing severe time by means of appeals.

Edmundo left Flamengo lower than a 12 months in favour of Corinthians. But he quickly walked out of Corinthians’ coaching floor by no means to seem once more after a bust-up, having not made a single look.

Despite the entire on and off the sector drama, the 2 greatest years of Edmundo’s profession would observe. He returned to boyhood membership Vasco, profitable the Brasileirao Serie A and ending as prime scorer with 29 targets in 28 matches. Incredibly, that got here within the midst of seven crimson playing cards that season.

His type landed him a £6million transfer to Fiorentina across the time Inter Milan signed compatriot Ronaldo for £25m. Yet what Fiorentina’s president affectionately described as a “lion-like temper” quickly got here again to chunk La Viola.

Edmundo, fuming at his lack of taking part in time, threw a strop and headed again to Brazil with out permission to ‘sort legal issues’ ensuing from his 1995 crash. Coincidentally, the Rio Carnival was on on the time.

The Brazilian bad-boy nonchalantly returned to Fiorentina and instantly scored in opposition to Napoli, including after the sport: “I dedicate my goal to myself after all I’ve been through in recent times. I think I deserve it.”

Three extra targets adopted and he earned a call-up to the 1998 World Cup, the place he drove his team-mates nuts with incessant complaints about being behind Ronaldo within the pecking order. Still, Edmundo delivered for Fiorentina below Giovanni Trappatoni as soon as the brand new season started, scoring targets in opposition to Napoli and Salernitana.

Yet fixed rows with Trappatoni would quickly fracture their relationship and, with Gabriel Batistuta’s damage requiring Edmundo to step in on the night time of an AC Milan conflict, the ahead as an alternative opted to move again house for the Rio Carnival festivities. “No-one asked me to stay and, even if someone did, I still would’ve gone,” he shrugged.

Unsurprisingly, his egocentric behaviour didn’t go down effectively in Italy, however Edmundo may merely not care much less. He revelled in a pro-celebrity foot-volleyball match at Ipanema seaside, Rio, whereas his membership had been shedding 1-0 to Udinese.

With Fiorentina unable to take anymore of his nonsense, ‘The Animal’ was lastly set free of the cage and left to his personal gadgets in Brazil as he as soon as extra returned to Vasco. And he managed to reside as much as his nickname once more in an outrageous incident at his son’s first birthday celebration.

Edmundo has employed a whole circus to pitch up in his backyard for the event. Caught within the crossfire of his twisted humour was a chimpanzee carrying a full Adidas tracksuit, named Pedrinho, who he fed beer and whisky.

Animal rights campaigners had been furious however Edmundo insisted he had executed nothing improper. Things on the pitch weren’t going significantly better, with Edmundo lacking an important penalty within the FIFA World Club Championships Final, 2000. He was kicked out of Vasco by vice-president Eurico Miranda for disciplinary causes.

A tumultuous eight-year interval adopted for the Animal which noticed him play for 11 golf equipment throughout Brazil, Italy and even Japan. He returned to Vasco for one final dance in 2008, scoring 24 targets earlier than lastly saying goodbye to the not-so-beautiful recreation.

Edmundo has since labored as a pundit for numerous broadcasters, protecting the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 amongst different competitions.