In 1962, Paulo Amaral, the physical trainer of Botafogo and the Brazilian national team of Garrincha, Santos and Zagallo.

• Handwritten letter from Paulo Amaral to Renato Estelita, with its envelope.
• One sheet, one page.
• In Portuguese.
• 22 cm x 29 cm.
• Turin, September 20, 1962.
• Good condition of conservation.
• Unique piece.

Excerpts

(...) I was immensely happy when I saw your photo with Garrincha, Santos and Zagallo in a clipping from O Globo that someone sent me. Fortunately for our Botafogo, you have accepted the difficult (for others) position of Football Director. For you, as we know, it will not be difficult at all. All the players truly like you, and there is no one better than Estelita to solve all the problems. Now I am certain that Botafogo is on the right track. Congratulations to the “Glorious”.

(...) I am doing very well here. “For now” the directors are very happy with my work. After two months of work, they wanted to terminate my contract (which is for 1 year) to sign another for 2 years. I didn’t want to. They gave me a car as a gift, a Fiat 1300. It’s a great car. This hotel where we are staying is top-notch. Everything is paid for by Juventus (room, food and laundry). The cost of our stay must be around 300 to 350 thousand cruzeiros per month. Juventus won the first game of the “Copa Italia” 5-2. The “bonus” was 100,000 pounds. The first game of the championship, we tied in Genoa, 0-0. The “bonus” was 130,000 pounds!! (Don’t let our players know…). The income here is fantastic! In Brescia (Copa Italia): 42 million pounds; In Genoa: 47 million! Now imagine a “classic” in Milan, Rome, Florence…

(...) I need a striker, who can only be a foreigner. Juventus is looking for a “snake”. If they get one, they will have to get rid of Amaro, because there, they only allow 2 defense players, here it is easy. The “devil” is a striker.

Paulo Amaral was a renowned fitness coach, known for his work with the Brazilian national team and major clubs such as Botafogo. He was part of the coaching staff of the Brazilian national team that won the 1958 World Cup. In addition, Paulo Amaral had a successful career in Europe, where he worked, as mentioned in the letter, for Juventus, one of the leading Italian clubs.

According to the blog “MundoBotafogo”, “Renato Estelita and João Saldanha, at the head of the football team, formed the duo that reinvigorated the Glorioso from 1957 onwards and sowed the seeds for the 1960s. 3. Interesting interview about the current situation at Botafogo, the internal struggles, the high salaries of the most expensive squad in the country and the disorganization of Brazilian football.”

The letter provides a fascinating insight into football in the 1960s, particularly into Paulo Amaral’s life in Italy, where he was working for Juventus. It includes details such as contracts, players’ “bicho” (bonuses) and match revenues, which are impressive even by today’s standards. The letter also mentions Botafogo legends such as Garrincha, Nilton Santos, and Zagallo, who are all revered figures to this day. Finally, the letter expresses the great confidence Paulo Amaral had in Renato Estellita to lead Botafogo’s football, the “Glorioso” reflecting the high regard in which both men were held by the club.

For a Botafogo fan, this letter is a very valuable historical document, showing not only the structure of football at the time, but also the personal relationships that underpinned the club's success. It connects Botafogo's glorious past with the great personalities who helped shape its history.