I-LEAGUE Media Team

NEW DELHI: Former Brazilian talisman Zico returned to the the City of Joy as he visited I-League Club Kingfisher East Bengal on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

The legendary footballer had earlier come as the coach of Japan for a World Cup qualifying game in 2004, against India.

Arthur Antunes Coimbra, fondly known as Zico, was the architect of the Selecao during the late 1970s and the early 80s, where he represented the National Team in the FIFA World Cup in 1978, 1982, and 1986.

He is considered as one of the best players in football history not to have been on a part of the World Cup winning squad. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players, and was also inducted in the FIFA Hall of Fame.

Zico visited East Bengal’s dressing room and besides meeting the players, visited the other infrastructural facilities at the club such as the Gymnasium, Jacuzzi, and the training Ground.

“I am delighted to visit one of the greatest football clubs in India,” the 61-year-old said.

“Incidentally, I started my career at a Brazilian club [Flamengo] whose jersey colour is the same red & gold as East Bengal. I wish East Bengal all the success and wish them to achieve many laurels.”

Zico was felicitated by the Club, as he was presented a memento and a Kingfisher East Bengal jersey.

Kolkata earlier has seen the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, Franz Beckenbauer, Lionel Messi, Eusebio, Oliver Kahn, and other footballing legends touch base in the city.