Neymar may have shocked the world by leaving Europe for Saudi Arabia, but he joined a long list of footballers who moved to the Gulf State this year. Brazil also has many representatives in the Saudi Pro League, especially after the current summer transfer window.
Besides, Al-Hilal also have a history of recruiting Brazilian talent. In addition to the former PSG star, 11 fellow countrymen have left their mark at the club over the last four decades.
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11 Brazilians who shone for Al-Hilal before Neymar
From Rivelino to Carlos Eduardo, these are 11 Brazilian footballers who contributed to Al-Hilal’s success.
Rivelino: considered the greatest talent in the club’s history, he was the first Brazilian to play for Al-Hilal. Rivellino arrived in 1979 at the age of 33, just after the Saudi League turned professional. The Brazilian star won both the league and the national cup, scoring 23 goals in 50 games. He called it a career in 1981.
Zagallo: took Rivellino to Saudi Arabia for the 1970 World Cup. After a spell with the Kuwaiti national team, Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo signed for Al-Hilal through the intermediary of Sheikh Fahd, taking over the team in 1978 and soon arranging the transfer of Rivelino. Despite his short spell, the Old Wolf is considered the greatest coach in the club’s history, having won the Saudi League title in 1978/79, in the first season to include foreign players.
Rubens Minelli: he was Zagallo’s successor at Al-Hilal and had an equally respectable CV. As coach, Minelli won the King’s Cup in the early 1980s, with Rivelino leading the team. Minelli went on to coach the Saudi national team and, at the club, was replaced by László Kubala.
Dé Aranha: a legend in Rio de Janeiro, striker Dé was a contemporary of Rivelino at Al-Hilal. After leaving Botafogo, he signed for the Saudi club in 1980 and stayed there for around two years. He won a national cup (1980) before returning to Bangu.
Sérgio Soares: well-known in São Paulo football, the player started out at Juventus. He attracted the interest of the Blues in the early 1990s, signing for them in 1992. In two years at Al-Hilal, the midfielder had a successful spell, winning two Arab Champion Clubs Cups. It is said that the player’s fame was such that he found it difficult to go out on the streets.
“I am here in Saudi Arabia, i am HILALI 💙”@neymarjr #AlHilal
pic.twitter.com/q7VUhf0FnQ— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) August 15, 2023
Candinho: the 1996 Portuguesa coach was in charge of Hilal on four occasions. There, he won five national titles, including league, cup and league cup. His skills as a coach saw him lead the Saudi national team for part of the 1994 World Cup campaign.
Serginho: even though he didn’t stand out in Brazilian football during spells with Corinthians, Vasco and Botafogo in the 1990s, the player became “Serginho of Arabia”. He played for Al-Hilal between 1999 and 2001 and was a hero when they won the Asian Cup in 2000. He was voted the best player in the competition and also in Saudi football. While still in the Middle East, he played for several clubs, but never managed to make a name for himself in his home country.
Marcos Paquetá: won recognition for his work with Flamengo’s youth team and with smaller national teams. In 2003 he won the Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups with Brazil. Shortly after, he was invited to coach Al-Hilal, where he became Saudi champion and won the King’s Cup. After forging a great reputation, he managed the national team in the 2006 World Cup. Despite an early exit, he remained in charge for a few more months before returning to Al-Hilal. Until the hiring of Péricles Chamusca in 2019, he was the club’s last Brazilian coach.
Camacho: From the 2000s onwards, the flow of Brazilian players to Al-Hilal increased. Among the most famous names are Roni, Túlio (the midfielder), Leandro Ávila, Somália (the striker) and Giovanni. However, the midfielder Camacho was the most popular. A former Botafogo player who was responsible for helping the team reach Serie B in 2003, he scored the goal that won Al-Hilal the Saudi League trophy in 2004/05. He only stayed for two seasons, but was voted the best foreign player in the country and was the team’s top scorer.
Thiago Neves: his first spell at the club came in 2009, after a stint at Hamburg. He was a technical reference in winning the Saudi League in 2009/10. He also played in half of the double-winning campaign, before signing for Flamengo in 2011. He returned to the country in 2013 and played a starring role for the team in the Asian Champions League in 2014.
Carlos Eduardo: the Brazilian with the most appearances and goals for Al-Hilal. He played for the club for five years, from 2015 to 2020, becoming a club legend. He scored 75 goals in 147 matches and won three Saudi league titles. Despite missing the final stretch of the 2019 Asian Champions League, he had an excellent Club World Cup and was awarded the Bronze Ball as the third best player.
