Gaúcho (footballer, born 1964)

Gaúcho

Personal information
Full name	Luís Carlos Tóffoli
Date of birth	(1964-03-07)7 March 1964
Place of birth	Canoas, Brazil
Date of death	17 March 2016(2016-03-17) (aged 52)
Place of death	São Paulo, Brazil
Position(s)	Centre forward
Youth career
1982–1984	Flamengo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1984	Grêmio
1985	Atlético Goianense
1986	XV de Piracicaba
1987–1988	Santo André
1988–1989	Palmeiras
1990–1993	Flamengo
1993	Lecce
1994	Boca Juniors
1994	Atlético Mineiro
1995	Ponte Preta
1995	Fluminense
Managerial career
2003-2004	Cuiabá (assistant)
2010	Mixto
2011	Luverdense
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Luís Carlos Tóffoli, usually nicknamed Gaúcho (7 March 1964 – 17 March 2016), was a Brazilian football player (centre forward), manager and club president.

Career

Gaúcho was born in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul. After spending his youth years at Rio de Janeiro club Flamengo, he began his professional career in 1984 at Grêmio. The following year he transferred to Atlético Goianiense. In 1986 he played for XV de Piracicaba, then a year later he moved to Santo André where he stayed until mid-1988.

From 1988 to 1989 he played for Palmeiras. On 17 November 1988, during a Campeonato Brasileiro Série A match against Flamengo, he was selected as replacement goalkeeper after Zetti suffered an injury. The match ended 1-1 after regular time; during the penalty shootout Gaúcho saved two Flamengo penalties, and Palmeiras won 5-4.

In 1990 he returned to his youth club, signing a three-year deal with Flamengo. There he won the 1990 Copa do Brasil, the 1991 Rio State Championship and the 1992 Série A. During this period he played 198 matches and scored 98 goals. At the end of his contract he joined Italian Serie A side Lecce, where he failed to make a breakthrough with only five games played. He left the club halfway through the season and signed with Boca Juniors, where once again he failed to repeat his good performances.

Back in Brazil, he joined Atlético Mineiro in 1994 where he played once again alongside his good friend Renato Gaúcho. In the following year, his last as a professional footballer, he played for Ponte Preta and Fluminense.

Cuiabá Esporte Clube

Main article: Cuiabá Esporte Clube

In 2001 he founded a football club called Cuiabá Esporte Clube. He was the club's first president. Cuiabá Esporte Clube twice won the Mato Grosso state championship, in 2003 and in 2004.

Death

Gaúcho died of prostate cancer on 17 March 2016.

Honors and achievements

• Brazil Cup - 1990
• Rio State Championship - 1991
• Rio State Championship top goalscorer (17 goals) - 1991
• Copa Libertadores top goalscorer (8 goals) - 1991
• Série A - 1992

References

• Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 1 - Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.