The gold medal that exporter and former coach Emerson Leao received for having been champion with the Brazilian team at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico was stolen from his residence on Sunday, the former soccer player reported Monday in the complaint he filed with the police.
Leao said the medal was among several objects stolen by unknown assailants who entered his home in the city of Sao Paulo on Sunday along with jewelry, precious stones, rings, bracelets, gold watches and even a replica of the Jules Rimet Cup.
The former player and coach of the Brazilian team explained that he was only aware of the robbery on Sunday night, when he returned to his home, located in the affluent neighborhood of Jardim Paulista, after a four-day trip.
The exporter of teams such as Palmeiras and Vasco da Gama and former coach of clubs such as Corinthians, Santos and Sport stated that the thieves forced the entrance door of his residence and other doors that were locked.
Leao was also the victim of robbers in February 2012, but on that occasion he arrived at his residence when the criminals were still in the house and confronted them.
"They tried to make me lie down. I did not see a firearm, just a knife. I had a quick reaction and they fled," said the technician, who could not prevent the thieves from taking a bag with several watches and souvenirs. of his time with the Brazilian team.
Another of the great trophies of the 1970 World Cup, the Jules Rimet Cup, which Brazil received for having been the first three-time world champion, was also stolen by thieves, the first time in England in 1966, but it was recovered, and the second in 1983 in Brazil.
The thieves who stole it from the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) melted it down in order to sell the metal, so the trophy was permanently lost.
