Zico (footballer)

Arthur Antunes Coimbra, better known as Zico, is a Brazilian football coach and former player who played as an attacking midfielder. A creative playmaker with excellent technical skills, vision and an eye for goal, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and also considered one of the best free kick specialists in history. According to one estimate, Zico has scored the most direct free kicks in history, with 101 goals including friendlies, among which 62 are verified in official games. Renowned for his technical brilliance, Zico was once described by Pelé as "the one player that came closest to me throughout the years". During his playing career, Zico was elected as the 1981 and 1983 Player of the Year. In 1999, Zico came seventh in the FIFA Player of the Century grand jury vote, and in 2004 was named in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. With 48 goals in 71 official appearances for Brazil, Zico is the fifth highest goalscorer for his national team. He represented Brazil in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups. Although Brazil did not win any of those tournaments, the 1982 side is regarded as one of the greatest teams in the history of the World Cup. He is widely considered the greatest Brazilian never to win the World Cup. Zico has coached the Japan national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, previously winning the 2004 Asian Cup with the squad. He has also coached Fenerbahçe, who reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2007–08 season under his command. He has also coached CSKA Moscow, Olympiacos and the Iraq national team. He works as technical director at Kashima Antlers.

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