1950 Atlético Mineiro European tour

The 1950 European tour was an episode in the history of Clube Atlético Mineiro in which the club played a series of friendly football matches in Europe, becoming the first club of Minas Gerais and also the first Brazilian at professional level to compete in the continent.[1] Atlético Mineiro played ten matches on European soil from 1 November to 7 December, touring through Germany (where it took part in a Winter Tournament), Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. The team won six matches, lost two and tied the remaining, scoring 24 goals and conceding 18.[2] At a time when neither national competitions in Brazil nor continental in South America exist, and in the wake of the traumatic Maracanazo, the tour and Atlético's results, many of which achieved under adverse weather conditions and snow, were seen by national sports media as a historic achievement for Brazilian football.[3][4]

History

In 1950 a commission formed by the German Football Association traveled to Brazil to choose a football club to a series of friendly matches in Germany against some of the country's club sides.[5] The proximity to both the Maracanazo, a traumatic event for Brazilian football, and World War II, in which Germany and Brazil were at opposite sides, may have made clubs from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, then the footballing centres of the country, refuse participation in the friendly tour. Eventually Atlético Mineiro, then state league champion of Minas Gerais, was selected, with Canor Simões, a journalist and sports director of the time, being credited as influential in the choice.[4][6][7]

Grünwalder Stadion was the first ground where Atlético Mineiro played on European soil

Atlético Mineiro's delegation arrived in Frankfurt on 27 October, where it was welcomed by German sports media, as it was the first time a Brazilian club played in the country.[8] From there, the team traveled to Munich, where it played 1860 München from Oberliga Süd on 1 November, winning its first game 4–3 under a misty and cool weather at the Grünwalder Stadion with 35,000 spectators. Hamburg was the team's second stop, where it defeated Hamburger SV 4–0 in front of 20,000 people at the Rothenbaum on 4 November. Only 24 hours later, Atlético Mineiro traveled to Bremen, and was defeated by Werder 1–3 at the Weserstadion, the tour's first defeat, with an attendance of 26,000.[8] A one-week rest followed, after which the team traveled to Gelsenkirchen, where Schalke 04 was defeated 3–1, in what was a farewell match for Ernst Kuzorra and Fritz Szepan, attended by 30,000 at the Glückauf-Kampfbahn on 12 November.[9]

Uruguayan Ricardo Diéz coached Atlético Mineiro during the tour

From Germany Atlético followed to Vienna, where 60,000 saw the Brazilians lose 0–3 to a strong Rapid Wien side, which would form the backbone of the Austrian national team in the 1954 FIFA World Cup, the tour's worst result. Viennese press reported that Atlético Mineiro's players complained about refereeing (a supposed offside goal and a non-existent penalty to Rapid), as well as about the crowd's behavior, which they saw as menacing even though the home team's supporters were only raising their arms to applaud the visitors.[10] On 20 November, the team played 1.FC Saarbrücken, then out of the German Football Association and playing in the French football league system because of Saarlands's French protectorate status, a match won by 2–0. A trip to Belgium followed, where 40,000 watched Atlético beat Belgian First Division champions Anderlecht, led by Joseph Mermans, by a 2–1 score on 22 November.[11] On 26 November the club returned to Germany, where they tied with Eintracht Braunschweig 3–3 at Eintracht-Stadion in front of 30,000 people.[12] Another 3–3 tie followed, this time in Luxembourg against Union, increased by players from some other Luxembourger sides, on 5 December.[13][14] The tour ended in Paris with a match against Stade Français on 7 December at Parc des Princes with a 4,000 attendance.[15][16] Atlético won 2–1 under an extremely low temperature, which made goalkeeper Kafunga play some parts of the match with his hands in a hot water bottle and caused hypothermia in midfielder Barbatana.[1]

Atlético Mineiro's delegation is welcomed by a large crowd in Belo Horizonte upon its return from the European tour

The tour ended in some turmoil at European soil, however, as a disagreement between the club's board members and the German tour manager Eden Kaltenecker resulted in the disappearance of the latter and a shortage of money for the return trip to Brazil, which had to be ultimately funded by Minas Gerais state government.[3][17] A match against French champion Lille, to be played on 10 December, was also cancelled because of intense cold.[18]

Brazilian press, however, anticipated the return of the club's delegation, which was honored by the Brazilian Sports Confederation[19] and received a standing ovation at the Maracanã before a Campeonato Carioca match.[20] The team was welcomed by over 50,000 people upon its return to Belo Horizonte, in what was described as an "apotheotic" celebration in the city streets.[17][21] Despite not having an unbeaten run, sports media lauded Atlético Mineiro's tour as a historical success for the country's football,[3] which had suffered a major setback with the Maracanazo in the same year, and the results achieved under adverse conditions and snowy grounds led to the dubbing of the team as Campeões do Gelo (Portuguese for "Ice Champions"), a feat remembered in the club's official anthem.[22]

Matches

1 November 1950
1860 München West Germany 3–4 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Thanner  13'
Sommer  71', 80' 		Report Lucas Miranda  7', 35'
Lauro  27'
Vaguinho  68'
Grünwalder Stadion, Munich
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Hechert (Germany)

4 November 1950
Hamburger SV West Germany 0–4 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Report Nívio  13'
Alvinho  20'
Lucas Miranda  27', 74'
Rothenbaum, Hamburg
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Rexhauser (Germany)

5 November 1950
Werder Bremen West Germany 3–1 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Preuße  35'
Burdenski  69'
Pöschl  81' 		Report Lucas Miranda  55'
Weserstadion, Bremen
Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Fritz de Zelle (Germany)[23]

12 November 1950
Schalke 04 West Germany 1–3 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Malinowski  77' Report Lucas Miranda  4'
Vaguinho  17', 61'
Glückauf-Kampfbahn, Gelsenkirchen
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Guzzetti (Italy)[24]

16 November 1950
Rapid Vienna Austria 3–0 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Dienst  14'
Körner  35'
Probst  69' 		Report
Pfarrwiese, Vienna
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Alois Beranek (Austria)[10]

20 November 1950
Saarbrücken Saar (protectorate) 0–2 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Report Nívio  82', 87'
Kieselhumes, Saarbrücken
Attendance: 16,000

22 November 1950
Anderlecht Belgium 1–2 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Mermans  38' Report Vaguinho  29'
Alvinho  83'
Émile Versé, Anderlecht, Brussels
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Albert Alsteen (Belgium)

26 November 1950
Eintracht Braunschweig West Germany 3–3 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Schroder  37'
Thamm  67', 89' 		Report Vaguinho  18'
Alvinho  53'
Murilinho  79'
Eintracht-Stadion, Braunschweig
Attendance: 35,000

5 December 1950
Union Luxembourg Luxembourg 3–3 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Juca  (o.g.)
Müller
Hermann 		Report Vaguinho
Lauro
Nívio
Achille Hammerel, Luxembourg
Attendance: 1,800

7 December 1950
Stade Français France 1–2 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
Drouet  72' Report Nívio  24'
Lucas Miranda  43'
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Gaby Tordjman (France)

Delegation

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
– Brazil GK Kafunga
– Brazil GK Mão de Onça
– Brazil DF Afonso
– Brazil DF Oswaldo
– Brazil DF Juca
– Brazil DF Márcio
– Brazil MF Moreno
– Brazil MF Vicente
– Brazil MF Zé do Monte
– Brazil MF Haroldo
No. Position Player
– Brazil MF Barbatana
– Brazil MF Vicente Pérez
– Brazil FW Lucas Miranda
– Brazil FW Lauro
– Brazil FW Zezinho
– Brazil FW Alvinho
– Brazil FW Nívio Gabrich
– Brazil FW Vavá
– Brazil FW Murilinho
– Brazil FW Vaguinho

Staff

Position Name
Head coach Uruguay Ricardo Diéz
Doctor Brazil Abdo Arges
Delegation chief Brazil Domingos Dângelo
Interpreter Germany Teodora Breickport
Diários Associados journalist Brazil Francisco Américo

References

  1. 1 2 "Pela estrada afora - "Campeões do Gelo" 1950" [Down the road - "Ice Champions" 1950]. Futebola RJ (in Portuguese). 2 December 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "European Trip of Atlético Mineiro 1950". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "De passagem o Atlético" [Atlético passing by]. Jornal dos Sports (in Portuguese). 14 December 1950. Retrieved 14 September 2015 – via National Library of Brazil.
  4. 1 2 Lacerda, Bernardo (17 December 2013). "Mundial resgata feito histórico do Atlético nos gramados gelados da Europa" [Club World Cup brings up Atlético's historic feat at icy fields of Europe]. UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  5. ↑ O primeiro Vavá, o único que pode contar as histórias vividas pelo Atlético-MG 'campeão do gelo' [The first Vavá, the only one who can tell the stories of "ice champion" Atlético Mineiro]. ESPN Brasil (in Portuguese). 26 November 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  6. ↑ Madureira, Thiago (31 March 2015). "Único remanescente do time "Campeão do Gelo", Vavá revela frustração e cobra reconhecimento" [The only one left of the ice champion squad, Vavá reveals frustration and demands recognition]. Superesportes (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  7. ↑ Costa, Thiago (27 July 2015). "Os Campeões do Gelo: memória, esquecimento, silêncio" [The Ice Champions: memory, oblivion, silence]. Arquibancada (in Portuguese) (Ludopédio) (73). ISSN 2446-6174. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  8. 1 2 Braun, Jutta (10 July 2014). "»So kalt!« – Als der brasilianische Fußball nach Deutschland kam – Die Eismeister" [»So cold!« – How Brazilian Football came to Germany – The Ice Master] (in German). 11 Freunde. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "12. November 1950: Zwei Legenden hören auf" [12 November 1950: Listen to two legends]. FC Schalke 04 official website (in German). 12 November 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Die Brasilianer wurden klar geschlagen" [The Brazilians were clearly beaten]. Arbeiter-Zeitung (in German). 16 November 1950. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  11. ↑ Américo, Francisco (23 November 1950). "Triunfou o Atlético na Bélgica" [Atlético triumphs in Belgium]. O Globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Empatou o Atlético Mineiro na Alemanha" [Atlético Mineiro ties in Germany]. O Globo (in Portuguese). 27 November 1950. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Bello Horizonte und Union spielen 3-3 bei einem Halbzeitstand von 1-1". Tageblatt (in German). 6 December 1950. Retrieved 15 September 2015 – via National Library of Luxembourg.
  14. ↑ "Union Luxbg. - Bello Horizonte 3-3 (Halbzeit 1-1)". Luxemburger Wort (in German). 6 December 1950. Retrieved 15 September 2015 – via National Library of Luxembourg.
  15. ↑ "Le Stade Français contre le champion du Brésil" [Stade Français against the Brazilian champions]. Le Monde (in French). 6 December 1950. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  16. ↑ "Vencedor o Atlético em Paris sob chuva e tremendo frio" [Atlético winner in Paris under rain and extreme cold]. O Globo (in Portuguese). 8 December 1950. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  17. 1 2 "Campeão do Gelo". Galo Digital (in Portuguese). 28 July 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  18. ↑ "Encerrada a excursão do quadro brasileiro" [Ended the tour of the Brazilian side]. O Estado de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). 10 December 1950. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  19. ↑ Leal, Ubiratan (5 May 2008). "Campeão informal, e daí?" [Informal champion, so what?]. Balípodo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  20. ↑ "Recebe o Atlético as homenagens da torcida carioca". Jornal dos Sports (in Portuguese). 17 December 1950. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  21. ↑ "Confirmou na Europa o prestígio do futebol brasileiro" [Confirmed in Europe the prestige of Brazilian football]. Diário de Minas (in Portuguese). 19 December 1950. Retrieved 15 September 2015 – via Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.
  22. ↑ "História - Atlético". Clube Atlético Mineiro official website (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  23. ↑ Américo, Francisco (6 November 1950). "Venceu sábado e foi derrotado ontem" [Won on saturday and was defeated yesterday]. O Globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  24. ↑ Américo, Francisco (13 November 1950). "Terceira vitória do Atlético Mineiro na Alemanha" [Third victory for Atlético Mineiro in Germany]. O Globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 September 2015.
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