A stunning new biography of Socrates--the iconic 1982 captain of
Brazil's greatest national soccer team to never win the World Cup.
Socrates was always special. With his 6'4" frame and incredible skill,
the attacking midfielder stood out. He was a hugely talented athlete who
graduated in medicine, yet drank and smoked to excess. Fans were
enthralled by his inch-perfect passes, his coolness in front of the
goal, and his back heel--the trademark move that singled him out as the
most unique footballer of his generation.
Off the pitch, he was just as original with a dedication to politics and
social causes that no player has ever emulated. As the leader of
Corinthians Democracy--a movement that gave everyone from the kitman to
the president an equal say in the running of the club--Socrates
revolutionized football management and left a truly lasting impression
at a time when Brazil was ruled by military dictatorship.
Passionate and principled, entertaining and erudite, Socrates was as
contradictory as he was complex. He was a socialist who voted for a
return of Brazil's monarchy, a fiercely independent individual who was
the ultimate team player, and a romantic who married four times and
fathered six children.
Armed with Socrates's unpublished memoir and hours of newly discovered
interviews, Andrew Downie has created the most comprehensive and
compelling account of this iconic figure. Based on conversations with
family members, close friends, and former teammates, Doctor Socrates
is the brilliant biography of a man who always stood up for what he
believed in--whatever the cost.
