Socrates has died

[seany]

Former Corinthians attacking midfielder dies following problems related to alcohol abuse.

Brazil legend Socrates has passed away after suffering complications in his bid to recover from an intestinal problem.

The former Corinthians hero was rushed to hospital in Sao Paulo on Thursday night with a suspected case of food poisoning, but was immediately placed in intensive care after it was discovered that he had suffered a septic shock, in which bacteria from an infection seeps into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body.

Despite the best efforts of medical staff, the 57-year-old lost his fight for survival and was pronounced dead at in the early hours of Sunday morning (Brazilian time).

Socrates had already been submitted to hospital with gastrointestinal haemorrhages twice previously since August and recently admitted that his problems had been related to alcohol abuse.

This is indeed tragic news. Socrates was a wonderfully gifted player who performed with such grace and verve on the field of play and often made the made the game look ridiculously easy with this fluid intelligent passing and barnstorming finishes.

The 57 year old spent almost his entire playing career in his native Brazil save for a season at Fiorentina and a single outing for non-league outfit Garforth Town.

R.I.P Socrates

 

[tototoner]

R. I. P.

 

[haxman]

Too many people dying recently way ahead of their time. R.I.P.

Barely remember him play but I do remember his younger brother Rai, who was part of that great PSG side with Weah and Ginola in the early 90's.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

One of my earliest memories of football is the 86 World Cup, I was ten and it was the first time i was actually aware of the competition and watched it as a proper fan. Sure Maradona was the show stealer that year, but i remember this hairy monster bossing the midfield for Brazil until they went out against France on penalties, Socrates stepping up for the first one and it was saved.

Truly a wonderful player to watch in the middle, a sad loss at only 57. RIP you hairy genius.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Utterly shocked, I remember him playing and he was such a brilliant, gifted player. Capped 60 times for Brazil.

Another legend gone. Another sad day for football.

RIP.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Tim Vickery just pointed out that today is the last day of the Brazilian domestic league season and Corinthians are playing Palmeiras, needing only a point to clinch the title. That's some motivation for their players to honour a true legend of their club.

 

[lilywhitecurtis]

Legend in and out of the game. Absolute Brazil legend. Didn't he become a doctor after retiring? I think he returned to play in lower league football about five or six years ago.

So young when you think about it.

 

[tototoner]

He became a pro footballer after qualifying as a doctor 1st

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I just came in here to post this. As someone who remembers him playing this is a sad thing.

 

[thinktank]

Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaalllllllllllll Soc-ra-teeeeeeeeeeeeeees Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllll!!!

Never forget that world cup. Ledge.

 

[Bulletspur]

One of my favourite Midfield players of the past. Loved him in the 1982 world cup where he made his mark in the best Brazilian team never to win a world cup! RIP Socrates

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Corinthians 0, Palmeiras 0, so Corinthians get the point they need and finish top with 71 points. 2 sendings off for each side though, sounds like a real battle of a match, but grats to Corinthians, at least their fans have something to celebrate at this sad time.

 

[tony_parkes]

Quality name. Quality player and beard, the word maverick seems to be made for him. Loved him in the '86 world cup.

 

[Marty]

I'm too young to remember him playing but I remember him from having religiously watched highlights shows from pretty much every World Cup when I was a kid.

Always sad when people pass on prematurely, RIP.

 

[AW?]

RIP

Great player, what I remember of him which isn't much.

 

[Ziege]

He became a pro footballer after qualifying as a doctor 1st

Which probably means he knew exactly what his drinking was doing to his body in medical terms, and yet still did it anyway... Makes you wonder what was so terrible in his life that he essentially killed himself with alcohol.

 

[Kendall]

Which probably means he knew exactly what his drinking was doing to his body in medical terms, and yet still did it anyway... Makes you wonder what was so terrible in his life that he essentially killed himself with alcohol.

Losing the ability to play?

 

[Ziege]

Losing the ability to play?

But he still practised medicine as a doctor after, had a career as a writer and was going to become an author. Not to mentioned he had a wife and 6 children as well... it seems to me he had a very full life outside of football, doing things he loved doing.

I obviously have no clue what was going through his head, but it just seems strange that someone who accomplished all that would continue to drink so much and smoke when they knew exactly how terrible it was for them.

Sad that he died, but I'm just puzzled as to why he kept up the self-destructive behaviour is all.

 

[brasil_spur]

Corinthians 0, Palmeiras 0, so Corinthians get the point they need and finish top with 71 points. 2 sendings off for each side though, sounds like a real battle of a match, but grats to Corinthians, at least their fans have something to celebrate at this sad time.

He is fondly thought of in Brazil and amongst Corinthians fans especially (i'm one myself), but his history of alcohol abuse is well publicised and as such there is less sympathy for him than there has been for Gary Speed for example.

 

[RickyVilla]

Absolute Leg End. RIP