Preguinho

João Coelho Neto, known more commonly as Preguinho (February 8, 1905 – October 1, 1979) was a Brazilian footballer in the striker position. He was born in Rio de Janeiro.

Preguinho

Preguinho in the Fluminense
Personal information
Full name	João Coelho Netto
Date of birth	(1905-02-08)8 February 1905
Place of birth	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date of death	1 October 1979(1979-10-01) (aged 74)
Place of death	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1925–1935	Fluminense
1937–1938	Fluminense	174	(129)
National team
1930	Brazil	2	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Son of Brazilian writer Coelho Neto, Preguinho was born on February 5, 1905. He played from 1925-1938 for Fluminense[1] and scored 184 goals. A varied athlete, (playing volleyball, basketball, waterpolo, swimming, hockey, track & field and ornamental jumps) he received in 1952 the title of "Grande Benemérito Atleta".

For Brazil he participated in the 1930 FIFA World Cup and was the first captain of the Brazilian national team, scoring the first goal ever from Brazil in a FIFA World Cup in a match against Yugoslavia, and two further goals in a match with Bolivia.[2]

He died at the age of 74 on September 29, 1979. In his honour, Fluminense dedicated a statue. A Brazilian TV-programme of his life was produced by Carlos Niemeyer for Canal 100 and directed by Carlos Leonam and Oswaldo Caldeira.