João Leal Neto

João Leal Neto (born 25 September 1937), is a Brazilian former professional footballer, manager and referee, who played as a midfielder.^[1][2]

João Leal Neto

Personal information
Full name	João Leal Neto
Date of birth	(1937-09-25) 25 September 1937 (age 87)
Place of birth	Santos, Brazil
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
–1954	Brasil FC (Santos)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1954	Santos
1955	Fluminense
1956	Jabaquara
1957–1958	América-SP
1958–1959	Guarani
1960–1962	Noroeste
1963–1964	São Paulo	54	(4)
1965	Botafogo-SP
1966	Ponte Preta
International career
1954	Brazil U20
Managerial career
1967	Noroeste
1967–1968	América-SP
1968	Ponte Preta
1978–1979	Guarani (assistant)
1980–1981	São Paulo (assistant)
1981	São Paulo (caretaker)
1981	América-SP
1987–1988	Brazil (assistant)
1989–1990	São Paulo (assistant)
1995	Gama
1995–1996	Ittihad Kalba
1999–2000	Santos (assistant)
2000–2002	Guarani (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 October 2023

Career

Leal began his career at Brasil FC de Santos, an amateur club. Upon being called up for the 1954 South American U-20 Championship in Venezuela, he was signed with Santos.^[3] He didn't stay for more than a few games and went to Fluminense in 1955, returning to the city of Santos in 1956, this time at Jabaquara. At América de São José do Rio Preto, he was champion of the second division of São Paulo in 1957. And in 1963, he was part of the champion squad of the Pequeña Taça del Mundo with São Paulo FC.^[4] He ended his career at the age of 29 at Ponte Preta.^[5]

As a coach, he managed several of the former clubs he played for, and was Carlos Alberto Silva's assistant in several jobs, including Brazil in 1987 and 1988. He was champion of the second division of the United Arab Emirates in 1996.^[6]

Honours

Player

São Paulo

• Small Club World Cup: 1963

América

• Campeonato Paulista Série A2: 1957

Manager

Ittihad Kalba FC

• UAE Division One: 1995–96