Fernando Guidicelli

Guidicelli was born in Rio de Janeiro. A technically gifted central midfield-player of Italian ancestry, he reportedly commenced his career about 1924 with America FC in the north of Rio de Janeiro, then one of the top clubs of Carioca football. In July 1927 he moved south and joined Fluminense FC, for which he played 90 times until June 1931. At the World Cup 1930 in Uruguay he debuted with the Brazil national football team in the match lost 1–2 against Yugoslavia. He also played in the second match in which Brazil defeated Bolivia 4–0. His third and last match in the national side took place in August of the same year, when Brazil defeated Yugoslavia in Rio 4–1. This match was not regarded official by the Yugoslav football association. Between June and August 1931 he and several players from Botafogo FC such as Nilo and Carvalho Leite re-inforced CR Vasco da Gama, also from Rio, on a trip to Europe – the only second trip to Europe by a Brazilian club since the one of CA Paulistano in 1925. In twelve matches in Portugal and Spain – among others against FC Barcelona, FC Porto, and S.L. Benfica and Sporting CP in Lisbon – the team of Vasco, coached by Harry Welfare, won eight times. Fernando Giudicelli remained in Europe and chose to play as a professional in Italy – football in Rio was still amateur sport back then – for FC Torino. He could do this, as he was considered an oriundo, an Italian emigrant returning home. His excellent technique found great acknowledgement,…