Sávio

For other people named Savio, see Savio (disambiguation).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Bortolini and the second or paternal family name is Pimentel.

Sávio
Personal information
Full name Sávio Bortolini Pimentel
Date of birth (1974-01-09) 9 January 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Vila Velha, Brazil
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
1986–1988 Desportiva Capixaba
1988–1993 Flamengo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1997 Flamengo 74 (20)
1998–2003 Real Madrid 105 (16)
2002–2003 → Bordeaux (loan) 27 (7)
2003–2006 Zaragoza 95 (16)
2006 Flamengo 10 (0)
2007 Real Sociedad 19 (5)
2007 Levante 12 (0)
2008 Desportiva Capixaba 9 (6)
2008–2009 Anorthosis 16 (4)
2010 Avaí 8 (0)
Total 375 (74)
International career
1994–2000 Brazil 21 (4)
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Men's Football
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sávio Bortolini Pimentel (born 9 January 1974), known simply as Sávio (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈsavi̯u]), is a Brazilian retired professional footballer who played as a left winger.

Known as "Anjo Loiro" ("Blonde Angel") and "Diabo Loiro" ("Blonde Devil"), he played most of his professional career in Spain, being a part of Real Madrid's setup during four-and-a-half seasons and appearing in more than 300 official games with four teams.

A Brazilian international in the mid and late 1990s, Sávio represented the nation in the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Club career

Flamengo and Real Madrid

Born in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Sávio started his footballing career at the Desportiva Capixaba youth team. Still as a junior he was transferred to Rio de Janeiro's Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, where he made his professional debut –[1]– he was hailed as the new Zico by the fans and the press due to his footballing ability, but also due to his frail physique.

In 1995, as part of Flamengo's centennial celebrations, Sávio teamed up with the volatile Romário and Edmundo. After clashing with the former he was transferred to Real Madrid in 1998, helping the La Liga powerhouse to three UEFA Champions League titles and the 2001 national championship; in the 2002–03 season he served a loan stint in France, at FC Girondins de Bordeaux. He holds French nationality.[2]

Zaragoza and Flamengo

In the following season, Sávio returned to Spain and was one of the most important players in Real Zaragoza, for which he played three years. In his first the Aragonese won the Copa del Rey, precisely against Real Madrid;[3] in the second, he scored a career-best ten league goals.[4]

In May 2006, Sávio returned to Brazil and Flamengo on a free transfer, signing a contract until December 2007. However, on 5 January of the following year, it was announced that he would be transferred to Real Sociedad also in Spain, for which he played his first league game on the 21st against Valencia CF;[5] in late June, after the Basques' relegation, he joined fellow league team Levante UD, and played there until January of the following year, leaving as many teammates due to unpaid wages.[6][7]

Later years

After a spell back in Brazil with his very first club, Desportiva Capixaba,[8] Sávio signed in August 2008 with Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta FC, appearing with them in the 2008–09 Champions League.[9] In January 2010 the 36-year-old returned to his country, joining Avaí Futebol Clube.[10]

After a few months with the Santa Catarina club, Sávio retired at the end of 2010.[11]

International career

Never a part of any FIFA World Cup finals squad, Sávio did however play with Brazil at the 1995 Copa América, where the nation lost the final to Uruguay on penalties. He also achieved the bronze medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta,[12] going on to collect a total of 21 full caps with four goals.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Real Madrid 1997–98 La Liga 12 3 1 0 2 0 15 3
1998–99 34 6 6 1 7 3 49 10
1999–00 25 4 2 0 11 4 42 9
2000–01 26 3 1 1 11 1 40 5
2001–02 8 0 1 1 4 2 14 3
Total 105 16 11 3 35 10 160 30
Bordeaux (loan) 2002–03 Ligue 1 27 7 5 2 4 1 36 10
Real Zaragoza 2003–04 La Liga 29 2 5 1 0 0 34 3
2004–05 36 10 1 0 10 4 47 14
2005–06 30 4 2 0 0 0 32 4
Total 95 16 8 1 10 4 113 21
Real Sociedad 2006–07 La Liga 19 5 0 0 0 0 19 5
Levante 2007–08 La Liga 12 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
Anorthosis Famagusta 2008–09 Cypriot First Division 16 4 0 0 4 1 20 5

Honours

Flamengo

Real Madrid

Zaragoza

Desportiva Capixaba

Avaí

Brazil

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Sávio de pancada", Placar edition 1109, November 1995, Editora Abril, p. 60
  2. ^ "Et aussi | L'Humanité". 14 March 2023. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  3. ^ Beckham misses out on Cup; BBC Sport, 17 March 2004
  4. ^ "La afición pide la renovación de Savio" [Fans want Savio to be renewed] (in Spanish). Aragón Digital. 10 January 2005. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Villa pone la sexta" [Sixth one courtesy of Villa] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 21 January 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  6. ^ "El Levante libera a Savio, Storari, Viqueira y Bruno si perdonan lo que les adeudan" [Levante free Savio, Storari, Viqueira and Bruno if they forgive debt]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 8 January 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Vive en su país a la espera de ofertas" [Lives in his country waiting for offers]. Marca (in Spanish). 3 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Savio Bortolini ficha por un equipo brasileño" [Savio Bortolini signs for Brazilian team]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 8 February 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Anorthosis claim Greek double on glory night". UEFA. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  10. ^ "Sávio foi apresentado no Avaí" [Sávio presented at Avaí] (in Portuguese). Avaí FC. Retrieved 23 January 2010. [dead link‍]
  11. ^ Aposentado, Sávio revela o sonho de voltar para a Desportiva como gestor (Retired, Sávio talks of dream of returning to Desportiva as manager); Gazeta Online, 20 September 2011 (in Portuguese)
  12. ^ Sávio – FIFA competition record (archived)