Niginho

Niginho

Niginho (center) in 1936
Personal information
Full name	Leonídio Fantoni
Date of birth	(1912-02-12)12 February 1912
Place of birth	Belo Horizonte(MG), Brasil
Date of death	5 September 1975(1975-09-05)(aged 63)
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1929–1933	Palestra Itália (MG)	31	(6)
1934–1936	Lazio	50	(42)
1936	Palestra Itália (SP)	6	(6)
1937–1938	Vasco da Gama	18	(25)
1939–1947	Cruzeiro	257	(207)
Total		362	(296)
International career
1937–1938	Brazil	4	(2)
Managerial career
1948–1949	Cruzeiro
1950–1951	Santos
1953–1955	Cruzeiro
1959–1961	Cruzeiro
1962–1963	Cruzeiro
Medal record RepresentingBrazil FIFA World Cup 1938 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leonídio Fantoni,best known asNiginhoorFantoni III(born inBelo Horizonte,12 February 1912 – died 5 September 1975) was a professionalassociation footballerwho played as aforward.

Biography

His Italian-origins family was a supporter ofCruzeiro,than known as "Palestra Itália". Fantoni started his career in that club, playing with his brotherJoão Fantoni(Ninão) and their cousinOtávio Fantoni(Nininho). In 1931, they were sold toLazio,where they would be known by their surnames, like a dynasty: Ninão was Fantoni I, Nininho was Fantoni II and him, Fantoni III.They played with another Italian-Brazilian player,Anfilogino Guarisi,in a Lazio squad known as "Brasilazio". Before moving to Italy, Niginho conquested theMinas Gerais State Championshipin 1928, 1929 and 1930.

In 1935, having dual citizenship, he was called by the Italian Army to fight in the invasion ofAbyssinia.He had married just one month before, and decided to go back toBrazil.Lazio authorized it and paid the ship ticket.That year was particularly difficult to him: his cousin Fantoni II died of generalized infection from a broken nose.

Without formal authorization of Lazio, Niginho transferred toPalmeiras,than also known as Palestra Itália. Playing there from March to May, he scored six goals in six games and conquered theSão Paulo State Championship.After that, he played inVasco da Gamain 1937. In that club, he received his first call toBrazil national football team.He was called to1938 FIFA World Cupas aLeônidas da Silvastand-by player. Unfortunately, the Italians warnedFIFAthat Niginho was in irregular situation, needing an authorization of Lazio to play,and that he was a deserter of Italian Army.

Leônidas injured himself in the game againstCzechoslovakiaand had to play again in the play-off against the Czechs, because Niginho couldn't substitute him.His injury got worse and he hadn't conditions to play againstItalyin the semifinals.

In 1939, Niginho came back to Palestra Itália, who had to change its name to Cruzeiro in 1942. He conquered anothertricampeonato,theMinas Gerais State Championshipin 1943, 1944 and 1945. He played in there along another brother,Orlando Fantoni.Orlando would also play in Lazio, becoming known as Fantoni IV.

Niginho stopped to play in 1947, but would be linked with Cruzeiro until his death. As a coach, he conquered thetricampeonatoin 1959, 1960 and 1961.In the 60s, his nephewsBenito FantoniandFernando Fantoniplayed in the club. Fernando would also play in Lazio, as Fantoni V.

Niginho died by a heart attack in 1975, when he was visiting Cruzeiro. He was one of the top goalscorers in the club's history, scoring 207 goals in 272 appearances, and the biggest idol in the pre-Mineirãoyears.

External links

• His profile in Laziowiki