Bebeto de Freitas, Leader of the Brazilian "Silver Generation" of Volleyball, Dies at 68

03/14/2018 - 11h28

Bebeto de Freitas, former-volleyball player, former-coach of the Brazilian national volleyball team and sports director, died on Tuesday (13), at age 68, in Belo Horizonte.

He had a cardiac arrest shortly after participating in the event to launch the American football team of Atlético-MG, at Cidade do Galo training center. Bebeto worked at the Club in Minas Gerais as a management and control director.

Atlético-MG announced three days of mourning.

Former volleyball player, Bebeto de Freitas was the setter for the Brazilian team in the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games in Munich and Montreal, respectively.

After the Games in Moscow, in 1980, he became, at age 30, coach of the men's Brazilian team.

He led the team to a revolution in Brazilian volleyball. Under his leadership, Brazilian volleyball took the spotlight and the men's team became a protagonist, particularly after winning a silver medal at the 1982 World Championship.

https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/2018/03/morre-o-ex-jogador-de-volei-bebeto-de-freitas-aos-68-anos.shtml

	Douglas Magno/O Tempo/Folhapress
	Bebeto de Freitas

Two years later, an even greater achievement: he led the team to another silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics -1984, with players including William, Montanaro, Renan and Bernard, among others.

Bebeto was also a successful coach in Italy, as the coach for Maxicono Parma, five times national champion. He also coached the Italian national team, as of 1997. In the following year, he won the World League.

Bebeto de Freitas also had activities outside volleyball. He directed the club Atlético-MG in 1999.

Between 2003 and 2008, he was the president of Botafogo, the team closest to his heart.

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Translated by ANA BEATRIZ DEMARIA