Tião Macalé was a classic attacking midfielder, owner of respectable technique, good vision and passing skills. Reveled by the modest Portuguesa-RJ, Tião Macalé caught the eye of Botafogo that signed him in early 1959, to play alongside all-time club's legends such as Garrincha, Paulo Valentim, Quarentinha, Amarildo, Zagallo, Nilton Santos, Adalberto and Manga. At Botafogo he had the unenviable task of replacing the legenday Didi, that left the club for Real Madrid in the same year; however the "ghost" of Didi was always above him and despite good and solid performances. And it became clear that Tião Macalé was not Didi, and the mounting pressure and protests from the fans made him to leave the club in 1962 to Guarani.
During his spell for Guarani, Tião Macalé maintained the same technical level and despite not having the same media attention as other big names of the time, he was still called up for Seleção Brasileira in 1963 for the South American Championship, playing five games with the National shirt.
His career was also marked by his "flashy" life outside the field, spending money in cars, women and lots of drinking... What affected his performances at Botafogo, Guarani and other clubs until retiment. Unfortunatelly he died poor and forgotten in Jundiaí, São Paulo, on August 22, 1972, victim of multiple organ failure, resulting from poor nutrition, only 35 years old.

It is important to emphasize that his name must be distinct from the humorous character of the same name, an incident that sometimes caused confusion, but which did not erase his trajectory on the fields.

Other Links:
Tião Macalé - Que Fim Levou? | Blog do 3º Tempo | Portuguese
Tião Macalé - Tardes de Pacaembu | Portuguese
Tião Macalé - Almanaque do Botafogo | Portuguese

Videos:
-------