Heleno de Freitas

Heleno de Freitas

Brazilian footballer of Roma origin, striker
Date of Birth: 20.02.1920
Country: Brazil

Content:
  1. Eleno de Freitas: A Gypsy Star with a Tragic End
  2. Rise to Prominence at Botafogo
  3. Stardom at Botafogo
  4. International Career with Brazil
  5. Transfer to Boca Juniors and Vasco da Gama
  6. Later Career and Retirement
  7. Personal Struggles
  8. Legal Education and Romance
  9. Tragic Death

Eleno de Freitas: A Gypsy Star with a Tragic End

Early Life and Career at Fluminense

Eleno de Freitas, a Brazilian footballer of Gypsy descent, was born in the city of São João Nepomuceno. He began his playing career in the youth system of Fluminense Football Club.

Rise to Prominence at Botafogo

In 1934, Eleno's talent caught the attention of scouts from Botafogo Futebol Clube. He joined the club's youth team and eventually made his debut for the senior team in 1939. However, he spent the next two years as a reserve behind the club's star striker, Carvalho Leite.

Stardom at Botafogo

In 1941, Carvalho suffered a serious injury and was forced to retire. This opened the door for Eleno to take over as the team's main striker. Over the next nine seasons at Botafogo, he scored an impressive 209 goals in 235 matches. He became a legend among the club's fans, earning the nickname "O Grande Artilheiro" ("The Great Scorer").

International Career with Brazil

Eleno also represented Brazil at the international level. He played for the national team on several occasions, scoring important goals in crucial matches.

Transfer to Boca Juniors and Vasco da Gama

In 1948, Eleno was sold to the Argentine club Boca Juniors. After two seasons in Argentina, he returned to Brazil and joined Vasco da Gama. It was with Vasco that he finally won a major trophy, the Rio de Janeiro State Championship.

Later Career and Retirement

Eleno later played for Colombian club Atlético Barranquilla and then returned to Brazil to play for Santos and América. In 1952, he tried to join Flamengo but was deemed unfit by the team's coaching staff.

Personal Struggles

Throughout his career, Eleno struggled with a drug addiction. He first experimented with narcotics while playing for Botafogo and eventually became a regular at nightclubs in Rio de Janeiro.

Legal Education and Romance

Despite his struggles, Eleno obtained a bachelor's degree in law in 1947. He also had a brief romantic relationship with Eva Perón while playing in Argentina.

Tragic Death

Eleno de Freitas died on November 8, 1959, at the Barbasena sanitarium, where he had been living for six years in an attempt to recover from syphilis. He was buried in his hometown of São João Nepomuceno.

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