Baltazar (footballer, born 1959)

Baltazar Maria de Morais Júnior (born 27 July 1959), known simply as Baltazar, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a striker.[1]

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Maria and the second or paternal family name is de Morais. "Júnior" is a generational suffix used for someone whose name is the same as their father, like "Jr." in English.
Baltazar
Baltazar in 2008
Personal information
Full name Baltazar Maria de Morais Júnior
Date of birth (1959-07-27) 27 July 1959
Place of birth Goiânia, Brazil
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1979 Atlético Goianiense
1979–1982 Grêmio 78 (46)
1982 Palmeiras
1983 Flamengo 26 (13)
1984 Palmeiras 11 (2)
1984–1985 Botafogo 18 (1)
1985–1988 Celta 92 (47)
1988–1990 Atlético Madrid 77 (53)
1990–1991 Porto 19 (2)
1991–1993 Rennes 34 (6)
1993–1995 Goiás 18 (11)
1995–1996 Kyoto Purple Sanga 30 (28)
International career
1980–1989 Brazil 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

During an 18-year professional career he played, other than in his country, in Spain, Portugal, France and Japan, winning several individual scoring honours. He appeared with the Brazil national team that won the 1989 Copa América.

Club career

Born in Goiânia, Goiás, Baltazar started playing with hometown club Atlético Goianiense. He signed for Grêmio in 1979, going on to score in double digits during his entire four-season spell a recording a best of 14 in 1980 while being an instrumental attacking unit in the team's back-to-back Gauchão conquests; in the 1981's Série A final against São Paulo, after missing a penalty kick in the first leg (2–1 home win), he scored the only goal in the second match for a first-ever national championship conquest.[2]

In the following four years, Baltazar played for Palmeiras (two spells), Flamengo and Botafogo, netting 13 times for the second side in another Brazilian championship conquest. He had his first abroad experience aged 26, being relegated from the Spanish La Liga with RC Celta de Vigo.

In 1986–87, Baltazar propelled the Galicians back into the top level by scoring a career-best 34 goals, also a best-ever in the second division. In a game in December, he accidentally collided with CD Málaga goalkeeper José Antonio Gallardo who died days later from a cerebral haemorrhage; he mourned the death which some had blamed him for.[3]

Baltazar only found the net on six occasions in the following season, but the club retained its league status.[4][5][6] He subsequently stayed in the country and joined Atlético Madrid, scoring 35 goals in 36 contests in his first season – his second Pichichi in three years – and adding 18 in the following;[7] however, after the emergence of younger Manolo, the 31-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements by manager Tomislav Ivić and, in November 1990, signed for FC Porto in Portugal, being used almost exclusively as a substitute during his only season.

Until his retirement at the age of 37 in 1996, Baltazar played for Stade Rennais (France), Goiás and Kyoto Purple Sanga (Japan).

International career

Baltazar played for Brazil at the 1989 Copa América which was held on home soil, appearing in three group stage matches for the eventual winners (including the 0–0 against Colombia as a starter).[8] However, during nearly one full decade, he only earned a total of six caps and scored two goals.

Post-retirement

Highly religious, Baltazar was nicknamed O Artilheiro de Deus (God's striker). He became a minister after retiring from football, settling in his hometown and fathering two children.[9]

Career statistics

[10][11]

Club
Club performance League
Season Club League AppsGoals
Brazil League
1979GrêmioSérie A1610
19801814
19812110
19822312
1983FlamengoSérie A2613
1984PalmeirasSérie A112
1984BotafogoSérie A00
1985181
Spain League
1985–86CeltaLa Liga326
1986–87Segunda División4434
1987–88La Liga167
1988–89Atlético MadridLa Liga3635
1989–903818
1990–9130
Portugal League
1990–91PortoPrimeira Liga192
France League
1991–92Stade RennaisLigue 1346
1992–93Ligue 200
Brazil League
1993GoiásSérie A00
1994Série B1811
Japan League
1995Kyoto Purple SangaFootball League2728
1996J1 League30
CountryBrazil 15173
Spain 169100
Portugal 192
France 346
Japan 3028
Total 403209

International
Brazil
YearAppsGoals
198010
198121
198200
198300
198400
198500
198600
198700
198800
198931
Total62

Honours

Club

Grêmio

Flamengo

Porto

Goiás

International

Brazil

Individual

References
  1. Baltazar: o «pichichi» desviado do Atl. Madrid maisfutebol.iol.pt
  2. "Baltazar, do Grêmio, relembra final do Brasileiro de 81 contra o São Paulo" [Baltazar, of Grêmio, remembers final of 81 Brasileiro against São Paulo] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  3. "Puerta, Jarque y Gallardo" [Puerta, Jarque and Gallardo]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 January 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  4. "3–2: Baltazar volvió a salvar al Celta" [3–2: Baltazar saved Celta again]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 22 December 1986. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  5. "3–3: Baltazar impidió el triunfo del Valencia" [3–3: Baltazar prevented Valencia win]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 7 September 1987. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  6. "Baltazar" (in Spanish). Yo Jugué en el Celta. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  7. "El gol del Atlético" [Atlético's goal]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  8. "Copa América 1989". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  9. "Baltazar, o artilheiro de Deus" [Baltazar, God's striker] (in Portuguese). Terceiro Tempo. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  10. Baltazar at BDFutbol
  11. "Baltazar". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
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