5 Dec 2011

Death of Brazilian footballer

6:20 am on 5 December 2011

Socrates, one of Brazil's greatest footballers, has died. He was admitted to intensive care on Friday at a hospital in Sao Paulo with an intestinal infection.

Socrates, 57, played in two World Cups and won 60 caps for his country between 1979 - 1986, scoring 22 goals.

He led the flamboyant but ultimately unsuccessful Brazil team at the 1982 World Cup, when they recorded a 4-0 win over the All Whites at the group stage.

Socrates was taken to hospital twice in August and September this year with bleeding in his digestive tract. After these incidents he admitted he had problems with alcohol.

His full name was Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Sousa Vieira de Oliveira.

A qualified docotor, he practised medicine and worked as a soccer pundit since retiring as a player.