Zico’s Second Retirement at the National Stadium

What was ‘FRIDAY’ reporting 10, 20, and 30 years ago? ‘Playback Friday’ revisits topics that were once hot topics. This time, we deliver ‘Goodbye Zico! ‘The Night of Retirement When Japan Cried,’ published in the July 8, 1994 issue, 30 years ago.

The Soccer J-League, which kicked off in 1993, was a hot topic for each team’s invitation of world-class superstars like Lineker and Litbarski. Among them, the most unforgettable figure for Japanese people was Zico, the ‘God’ who shone in three World Cups as part of the Brazilian national team. Here’s how he looked after his final match in active duty with Kashima Antlers, against Brazil’s CR Flamengo in a preseason match.

 

Superstar Waves Goodbye in Front of Just a Few Hundred Spectators

《“Zico! Zico!”
On June 21st, as the game concluded, a chorus erupted from approximately 55,000 spectators who packed the National Stadium. Some were in tears. The man bidding farewell to his soccer career after this match repeatedly waved to the overflowing stands, his eyes moistened.

“I feel relieved that it’s finally over. Over the past three years, memories of everything that happened keep coming back to me.”

In 1991, when Zico (then 41) came to Japan to play for Sumitomo Metals, the predecessor of Kashima Antlers, soccer was still a minor sport in Japan. Even soccer superstars had to play in front of just a few hundred spectators. But now, he receives enthusiastic cheers from crowds comparable to those at the World Cup.

“I’m really happy to see the stands filled like they are today. This is exactly what I wanted to achieve in Japan.”》

During his three years in Japan, Zico experienced various events. In 1993, during the opening match at Kashima Stadium, he scored the J-League’s first hat-trick against Nagoya Grampus Eight led by Lineker. However, he also struggled with injuries and missed several games. Additionally, in 1994, during a match against Verdy Kawasaki (now Tokyo Verdy) for the inaugural J-League championship, he was sent off after spitting on the opponent’s penalty ball in the infamous “spitting incident,” which led to intense criticism and backlash.

《Interestingly, the opponent for his retirement match was Flamengo, the team he joined in 1981 when he first came to Japan and won the world championship. For Zico, it was the perfect final stage. Afterward, he returned to his homeland Brazil with the honors of being the first foreigner awarded the Prime Minister’s Commendation and an honorary citizen of Kashima City.

“Comparing my three years in Japan to a soccer match, it feels like extra time. I retired from playing once and embarked on a new challenge.”》

Zico retired in 1989 due to a knee injury and became Minister of Sports in Brazil. In 1991, he accepted an offer from Sumitomo Metals, then in the JSL 2nd Division, because he was interested in advising the club, which had decided to join the professional league starting in 1993, on its development. He also wanted to contribute to energizing the town of Kashima through football.

His initial focus was on instilling a professional mindset in the players and creating a conducive environment. Reflecting on those days, Zico described his approach in a September 2023 interview with ‘Number web’.

 

“Similar training environment to amateur clubs in Brazil. Some players indulged in alcohol and tobacco. The team provided meals like rice, miso soup, and grilled fish—what could be described as elderly food, not suitable for athletes. I started by advising on basic matters such as improving training facilities and living conditions.”

Upon the establishment of the J-League, Kashima Antlers rose to become one of the strongest teams in J-League history, starting with a championship in the inaugural First Stage and continuing with impressive performances. The team’s hometown, Kashima Town (now Kashima City), with a population of 45,000, also became a nationally recognized model case for community revitalization through club sports.

After serving as Kashima’s technical advisor, Zico went on to coach the Japan national team from 2002 to 2006, guiding them to the World Cup in Germany. Following his tenure as national team coach, he managed club teams in countries such as Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Russia. From 2018 to 2021, he returned to Kashima as technical director. After leaving this role, he returned to Brazil but remains involved as an advisor.

On June 17th this year, a mural commemorating Zico’s 30th anniversary of retirement was unveiled at Kashima Stadium, with Zico stating at the unveiling ceremony, “I want to continue walking with Antlers myself from now on.”