Luis OLIVEIRA

However I still believe that our team is a very competitive one and I hope to face Italy during the next World Cup.
I played a game against your national team in Cremona before the last European Championship.
Many say that Cecchi Gori decided to acquire me just after that game".

Is it true that Zico was your idol?

"Exactly.
Pele', Socrates, Zico, Romario and now Ronaldo are idols for any Brazilian.
When I was 16 and I moved to Belgium, I brought many Zico's videotapes with me".

Horses are your main hobby.

"I fell in love with them during a travel in Tunisia.
I tried to ride a thoroughbred and I fell down but I didn't give up.
Now I have 14 horses and my wife, who is a true expert, take care of them at Moratera (Sardinia)".

When you left Cagliari you rejected many Spanish and French offers to go to Firenze, saying that you wanted to move to an ancient city, full of history and monuments.
Did you regret that choice?

"Not at all. I love both Firenze and Fiorentina.
Fiorentina is on its way to become a great football team and Firenze is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Sometimes I stop in Piazza del Duomo to admire the Cathedral, its dome, the Baptistery and Giotto's tower.
I wonder how a human mind could conceive and realize so wonderful masterpieces".

This is Oliveira, a talented player and a very humane guy, in spite of those who lately tried to involve him in several controversies by absurd and groundless accusations.

BORN OF A FOOTBALL FAMILY.
Luis Airton Barroso Oliveira was born the 24th of March 1969 at Maranhao Sao Luis (Brazil).
His father Zezico was a mechanic and a good football player.
At the age of 16 Luis went to Europe, along with other 5 aspiring champions (still unknown) and had several tryouts with Spanish and Belgian teams.
He was finally acquired by Anderlecht for 40 millions of Italian lira.
Oliveira began to play with the juvenile team and, at the same time, worked as a storekeeper to round out his poor salary.
In 1988-89 he made his debut with the major team.
Luis played 4 seasons with Anderlecht (95 games, 36 goals) and won a Belgian Title.
In 1992 he became a Belgian subject and Belgium's coach Van Himst immediately lined up him against Tunisia where he scored the first goal for his new national team.
In 1992-93 he moved to Italy after long negotiations with Cagliari's Manager Carmine Longo.
With Cagliari he played 4 seasons (121 games and 41 goals).
In 1996 he finally went to Firenze.
During his first season he scored 9 goals over 31 games.
In Belgium he got married for the first time with Silvia, and they have 2 children.
Later, after divorcing, he got married again in Cagliari with Annalisa and they have a beautifiul daughter called Alessia.