Cláudio Taffarel

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Cláudio Taffarel

Taffarel,2000 UEFA CUP FINAL
Personal information
Full name Cláudio André Mergen Taffarel
Date of birth May 8, 1966 (1966-05-08) (age 42)
Place of birth    Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1985-1990
1990-1993
1993-1994
1994-1998
1998-2001
2001-2003		 SC Internacional
Parma
Reggiana
Atlético Mineiro
Galatasaray
Parma		 050 (0)
074 (0)
031 (0)
073 (0)
089 (0)
006 (0)   
National team
1987-1998 Flag of Brazil Brazil 106 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Cláudio André Mergen Taffarel (born May 8, 1966 in Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul) is a former football goalkeeper. He is of German and Italian descent, and played for Brazil in their victory at the 1994 World Cup.

He conceded only one goal in the first round and two in the knock-out phases (excluding two penalty kicks in the final). In addition to USA 1994, Taffarel helped lead Brazil to second place in the 1998 World Cup in France. In the semifinals against Netherlands, he played a central role in the 4-2 penalty kick victory, saving the last two attempts. Upon his retirement in 2003, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira offered to arrange a farewell match. Taffarel refused, stating that he was not interested in such fanfare. He did return to play alongside Romário in late 2004 against Mexico to commemorate the 1994 World Cup victory in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

At club level, Taffarel played for Internacional (1984-90), Parma (1990-93 and 2001-02), Reggiana (1993-94), Atlético Mineiro (1994-97), and Galatasaray (1998-2001). For the Brazilian national team, Taffarel is the most capped goalkeeper in their history, with 106 appearances. Other than the 1994 triumph, he also played in the 1990 and 1998 World Cup tournaments. Taffarel was also Brazil's keeper at their Copa America success in 1989 and 1997.

In March 2004, he was one of nine goalkeepers (the only Brazilian goalkeeper) to be named in Pelé's top 125 greatest living footballers.

He had a key role in Galatasaray's UEFA Cup triumph over Arsenal F.C. in 2000, and was named the man of the match in the final. He also helped Galatasaray defeat Real Madrid 2-1 to win the UEFA Super Cup in 2000 and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2001, performing at the top of his game in victories against clubs such as A.C. Milan and Real Madrid. While with Parma he won the Italian Cup.

Taffarel is a born-again Christian who, along with Brazilian football teammates Jorginho and Bismarck Barreto Faria, was featured sharing his faith in a special version of the Jesus film produced and distributed during the 1998 World Cup.

[edit] Honours

[edit] External Links

v • d • e
Brazil squad - 1990 FIFA World Cup
1 Taffarel • 2 Jorginho • 3 Ricardo Gomes • 4 Dunga • 5 Alemão • 6 Branco • 7 Bismarck • 8 Valdo • 9 Careca • 10 Silas • 11 Romário • 12 Acácio • 13 Mozer • 14 Aldair • 15 Müller • 16 Bebeto • 17 Renato Gaúcho • 18 Mazinho • 19 Ricardo Rocha • 20 Tita • 21 Mauro Galvão • 22 Zé Carlos • Coach: Lazaroni
 Flag of Brazil
v • d • e
Brazil squad - 1994 FIFA World Cup Winners (4th Title)
1 Taffarel • 2 Jorginho • 3 Ricardo Rocha • 4 Ronaldão • 5 Mauro Silva • 6 Branco • 7 Bebeto • 8 Dunga • 9 Zinho • 10 Raí • 11 Romário • 12 Zetti • 13 Aldair • 14 Cafu • 15 Márcio Santos • 16 Leonardo • 17 Mazinho • 18 Paulo Sérgio • 19 Müller • 20 Ronaldo • 21 Viola • 22 Gilmar • Coach: Parreira
 Flag of Brazil
v • d • e
Brazil squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup Runners-up
1 Taffarel • 2 Cafu • 3 Aldair • 4 Júnior Baiano • 5 César Sampaio • 6 Roberto Carlos • 7 Giovanni • 8 Dunga • 9 Ronaldo • 10 Rivaldo • 11 Emerson • 12 Carlos Germano • 13 Zé Carlos • 14 Gonçalves • 15 André Cruz • 16 Zé Roberto • 17 Doriva • 18 Leonardo • 19 Denílson • 20 Bebeto • 21 Edmundo • 22 Dida • Coach: Zagallo
 Flag of Brazil