The “Michael Jackson”: Brazilian National Team and Europe

Part 3: Reference in the Brazilian National Women's Team and in Torino.

Photograph of the first female Brazilian national team in Granja Comary, (1988) by Archive Michel JacksonThe Football Museum

Brazil's National Female team debut

Women's football got to FIFA in 1988, with the organization of the Experimental Tournament in China. That was a test for creating the World Cup. The tournament inspired the creation, by CBF, of the first Brazil's National Female team. And Michael, the biggest scorer, was there.

16 players from Radar were invited to the team. Under coach João Varela's command, the team stared famous players Pelezinha, Marcinha, Lica and Russa.

The women trained at the military facility CEFAN - Center of Physical Education Almirante Adalberto Nunes. They went through an adaptation to China's time zone, still in Brazil. Lunch time at 5pm, dinner at midnight and sleep time at 4am.

In Guangdong, July 1st 1988, the first match scared everyone as Brazil was defeated by Australia, 1 to 0. The second game, on day 3, another surprise: a win of 2x0 over Norway, a winning team that hadn't been defeated for 28 games straight. On day 5, the third match: a generous win over Thailand, 9x0. Brazil brought home a bronze medal, getting third place after defeating the tournament hosts, China. Michael scored 3 goals in the tournament and said: "We didn't know what they were saying, we just knew how to play football."

Marileia dos Santos and the defender Suzi during a training before China's Experimental Tournament. Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro., Archive Michel Jackson, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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First Brazilian women's football national team at Granja Comary, Archive Suzana Cavalheiro, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Beginning of the match between Brazil and Holland in the China Tournament., Archive Suzana Cavalheiro, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Warm-up of brazilian women's football national team during the China Experimental Tournament., Archive Simone Carneiro, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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First Brazilian women's football national team during the China Tournament., Archive Simone Carneiro, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Stadium where the China Experimental Tournament was held., Archive Simone Carneiro, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Brazilian player during the China Experimental Tournament., Archive Suzana Cavalheiro, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Training for the China Experimental Tournament. Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro., Archive Márcio Honório, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Márcia Honório, Michael Jackson, Suzy and Russa training for the China Experimental Tournament. Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro., Archive Márcio Honório, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Marileia dos Santos holding the trophy (1995) by Archive Michel JacksonThe Football Museum

The South American Championship

Created in 1991, the South American Women's Football was responsible for classifying the selections for the World Cup, which began the same year. Marileia dos Santos competed in the 2nd edition held in January 1995 in the city of Uberlândia.

Players like Meg, Marane, Elane, Solange, Sissi, Leda Maria, Cenira, Pretinha, Roseli and Michael Jackson, under the command of the coach Ademar Júnior, brought a stir to the local fans, after a rain of goals in the conquest of the second championship.

"This wonderful crowd is encouraging us. And we also have ability on the pitch, which is excellent, but heavy. We are more prepared or maybe adapted because we train more than the other teams," Michael said in an interview with Folha de S. Paulo at the time.

With an average of 40,000 people per match and a record 68,000 spectators in the final match against Argentina, the sports feast promoted at Sabiá Park helped promote the explosive football of striker Michael Jackson nationally.

After the success of South American, the city of Uberlândia was the scene of another international women's football tournament. The Maizena brand sponsored an event with the presence of Brazilian, Argentine and Australian teams.

Training during the South American Championship of Women's Soccer held in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Brazilian Women's National Team in the beggining of the South American Women's Football Championship held in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Brazilian Women's National Team in the beggining of the South American Women's Football Championship held in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais,, Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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South American Women's Football Championship held in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Uberlândia, Minas Gerais., Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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South American Women's Football Championship held in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Archive Fanta Motta, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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South American Women's Football Championship held in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Archive Fanta Motta, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Marileia dos Santos during her season playing for Torino Football Club, Itália. (1995) by Archive Michel JacksonThe Football Museum

The first brazilian to play professionally in Europe.

Still in 1995,the italian team Torino Calcio Femminile, came to Brazil for a friendly match in the cities of São Paulo and Sorocaba. At Pacaembu Stadium, the Brazilian team won 3-0 with Michael Jackson. And again, 1-0 in the second game. The Italian team then invited Michael to play abroad. It was the first international transaction of a female Brazilian player. At 32 years old, she spent two seasons in Italy, from 1995 to 1997, defending Torino Calcio Femminile, conquering Menton's International Tournament in France, 1996 and Blanes' International Tournament in Spain, 1997.

Marileia dos Santos during her season playing for Torino Football Club, Itália, Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Torino Football Club squad, Itália., Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Jersey that Marileia wore when she played for Torino., Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Jersey that Marileia wore when she played for Torino., Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Jersey that Brazilian Women's National Team wore during China Experimental Tournament., Archive Michel Jackson, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Jersey that Brazilian Women's National Team wore during China Experimental Tournament., Archive Michel Jackson, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Jersey that Brazilian Women's National Team wore during China Experimental Tournament., Archive Michel Jackson, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Jersey that Brazilian Women's National Team wore during China Experimental Tournament., Archive Michel Jackson, 1988, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Article for Placar Magazine. (1996-07) by Archive Michel JacksonThe Football Museum

Michael Jackson's World Cup debut

The World Cup in Sweden, in 1995, had 12 teams in 3 groups. The team was confident after a good campaign in the South American championship. It was Michael's first appearance at a world championship, alongside Roseli, Fanta, Elane and Leda Maria. The coach was Ademar Fonseca, called Dema. They beat the Swedish team 1-0 in their first game, but lost to Japan 1 - 0. Michael did not play against Germany, for a yellow card suspention. The hope of victory resparked after the news that women's football would be in the Olimpic Games after 1996.

Preparation for the 2nd Womens World Cup., Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Jersey that Marileia dos Santos wore at South American Football Championship held in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais., Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Jersey that Marileia dos Santos wore at South American Football Championship held in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais., Archive Michel Jackson, 1995, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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Jacket of the Brazilian women's football national team. (1990) by Archive Michel JacksonThe Football Museum

Olympic Sport, one hundred years later.

The 100th anniversary of the Olympic Games happened in Atlanta, USA and represented a new opportunity to promote brazilian's young National team, having played for only eight years. Under Zé Duarte's command, the team grouped in Rapid City, Dakota and played seven friendly matches in preparation heading to Atlanta.

Marileia dos Santos during the Atlanta Olympic Games, USA., Archive Michel Jackson, 1996, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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There, Marileia dos Santos was able to see the pop star who lent her his name. The singer played at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

News about the brazilian women's football national team during the Atlanta Olympic Games, USA,, Archive Leda Maria, 1996, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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The female teams went on to play on stadiums in Birmingham, Atlanta, Washington, Miami and Orlando. Brazil tied with the strong team of Norway on their first match, 2 to 2 and won over Japan 2 to 0. The match against Germany was also a tie 1 to 1 that garanteed Brazil's classification. On the fight for the Bronze medal, Norway won 2 to 0 leaving Brazil in fourth place. On the same tournament, the men's team got the bronze medal and beyond having more attention and technical support, they also had their own plane.

Marileia dos Santos beside Ronaldo Nazario (also a striker), on the airplane returning from the Olympic Games, event held in Atlanta, Archive Michel Jackson, 1996, From the collection of: The Football Museum
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The female team arrived at the competition with their return tickets already bought for right after the end of the first round. The women won the games advancing to next round and "as a prize" got a lift on the men's plane.

Credits: Story

SAO PAULO STATE GOVERNMENT
Governor | João Doria
Secretary of Culture and Creative Economy of the State of São Paulo
Secretary | Sérgio Sá Leitão
Assistant Secretary | Claudia Pedrozo
Coordinator of the Museum Heritage Preservation Unit | Antonio Lessa

FOOTBALL MUSEUM
Culture, Education and Sport - social organization of culture
Administrative Council
President | Carlos Antonio Luque
Vice President | Clara of Asunción Azevedo
Executive Director | Eric Klug
Administrative and Financial Director | Victoria Boldrin
Director of Content | Daniela Alfonsi

IMPEDIMENTO MUSEUM
Google Initiative and Museum of Football
Curator Daniela Alfonsi and Camila Aderaldo - Football Museum
Research Assistant Ligia Dona - Football Museum

Virtual exhibition Michael Jackson
Research Aira Bonfim and Cassimano
Text Aira Bonfim and Daniela Alfonsi

Virtual exhibition Lea Campos
Research Aira Bonfim and Cassimano
Text Aira Bonfim and Daniela Alfonsi

Virtual Exhibition Museum of Impediment
Research Aira Bonfim, Ligia Dona and Camila Aderaldo
Text Aira Bonfim and Daniela Alfonsi

Sources:

ICASSATTI, Miguel. Um sábado no paraíso do swing e outras reportagens sobre sexo. Ed. Panda Books: São Paulo, 2006.

Goellner, S. V., Santos, M. D., Joras, P. S., & Ramos, S. D. S. (2014). Testimonials from Marileia dos Santos [Michael Jackson].

Goellner, S. V., Belo, R. D., Castro, L., & Lima, E. D. (2015). Testimonials from Roseli de Belo.

ALMEIDA, Caroline Soares de et al. Boas de bola: Um estudo sobre o ser jogadora de futebol no Esporte Clube Radar durante a década de 1980. 2013.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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