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Socrates Dies

December 4, 2011 by · Comments Off on Socrates Dies 

Socrates DiesSocrates Dies, Former Brazil great Socrates, the clever playmaker who captained Brazil at the 1982 World Cup, died Sunday. He was 57.  Known for his elegant style on the field and his deep involvement with Brazilian politics, Socrates died of septic shock resulting from an intestinal infection, according to a statement by the Albert Einstein hospital.

He had been rushed to hospital on Saturday — the third time in four months — and had been in critical condition in an intensive care unit, breathing with the help of a ventilator.

Socrates was twice hospitalized and placed in intensive care in the last few months, most recently in September. Both times he was admitted for hemorrhage caused by high pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive system to the liver.

Socrates acknowledged being a heavy drinker, even when he starred as a player in the 1980s, but said he stopped drinking earlier this year after his stints in the hospital.

Socrates was above average both on and off the field. He became a doctor after retiring from soccer and later became a popular TV commentator and columnist, always with unique and controversial opinions. He never denied his fondness for drinking, from the time he was a player until his final days.

Socrates wrote a series of columns for The Associated Press during the 2011 Copa America in Argentina, expressing his views on all aspects of the tournament, including economic and political issues in Latin America.

“It’s not just about the game itself,” Socrates said before the competition began. “Before anything, (soccer) is a psychological battle, the human aspect plays a significant role.”

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