Athletico 100 years: Rubens Passerino Moura

Colonel of the Brazilian Army, Rubens Passerino Moura He was an obstetrician and gynecologist, as well as director of the Military Hospital of Curitiba. He spoke harshly and didn’t hide the fact that he was armed.

On December 12, 1969, he assumed the presidency of the Athletico at a time of serious financial crisis and in an uncomfortable queue of titles about to complete 12 years.

Not even he himself imagined everything he would be able to do and achieve as director of the club in the following two years: cleaning up the accounts, increasing the number of members by almost 5000% and winning one of the most important titles in history.

The first measure was obtained when knocking on the doors of the Iguaçu Palace to talk to the then governor Paulo Pimentel. He offered the club’s keys as collateral for a loan and promised the Atletico politician a championship belt at the end of the year.

To increase permanent income, he created a campaign to attract new members, placing ballot boxes throughout the city, including in Boca Maldita. The campaign stirred the enthusiasm of the kids and Athletico went from 200 to 10 thousand members (most likely someone in your athletic family has a card from that time).

To achieve the title so dreamed of by the people, as a good obstetrician, he often used forceps. He kicked his boots to ensure that Atletiba’s shift would be in Baixada, against the wishes of his rival, the press and the federation. Furacão won 1-0, with a goal from Zé Leite, in a fundamental victory for the victorious campaign.

In the end, Colonel Passerino Moura gave the necessary support for Sicupira and the others to win the championship and was able to give the ribbon to the governor as he promised. For these reasons, he left his name in red and black history.