Athletico 100 years: Gustavo, the rock’n’roll defender

At the end of the 1990s, it was not uncommon for me to meet the defender Gustavo on the nights of the legendary Empório São Francisco, when city bands like Relespública and Black Maria filled the house. In an unimaginable proximity to the fans, the 1.90m tall beque stood out in the rock’n’roll landscape, while most of his colleagues must have been enjoying their time off in pagoda houses.

It wasn’t just musical taste that distinguished Gustavo Caiche. Since arriving at Furacão in 1998, he has been a collector of titles. He was champion of Paraná in 98, of the Copa Paraná and Seletiva 99 and was three-time state champion in 2000, 2001 and 2002. In the first cup of the third championship, he scored the title goal against the Coxes and ended up being sent off in celebration.

In the historic 3-5-2, Gustavão was the right-handed stopper, the defender on the right who went into attack. In the final matches, he was decisive in goals against São Paulo and Fluminense, finishing left-handed, in the area, balls that were left for Alex Mineiro to score.

The injury he felt in the first game of the final against São Caetano, under normal conditions, would require weeks of recovery. But, at the request of the player and Geninho, doctor Edilson Thiele went over his own protocols and applied an anesthetic infiltration to Gustavo who, as always, played hard.

Interestingly, Gustavo is not in the official title photo, as he was changing his boots at the time of the pose. But even with his knee damaged, he could be seen 90 minutes later in the Anacleto Campanella grid celebrating in his own style. headbanger with the red and black crowd the golden star that he decisively helped to win.