Raí

The Terror of Morumbi who conquered Europe and the world.

Raí Souza Vieira de Oliveira (born 15 May 1965), known mononymously as Raí, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. The younger brother of former Brazil captain Sócrates, Raí also captained the Brazil national team and was part of the squad that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He spent most of his 15-year career with São Paulo and Paris Saint-Germain, winning 10 major titles and scoring nearly 100 goals across the two clubs.

Lore & Background

Raí was born into a middle-class family in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. He played street football and basketball during his youth. At age 15, he began pursuing football seriously and joined local club Botafogo after a friend encouraged him to attend a trial. He made his official debut in 1984 and, after promising performances, signed for Ponte Preta two years later. Injuries and loss of form led to his return to Botafogo, where he revived his career under Uruguayan coach Pedro Rocha. He joined São Paulo for the 1987 season. In 1992, he helped São Paulo win the club's first Copa Libertadores, scoring the only goal of the second leg of the final against Newell's Old Boys to force a penalty shootout. Later that year, he scored both goals in São Paulo's 2–1 victory over Barcelona in the 1992 Intercontinental Cup. He was named South American Footballer of the Year. In June 1993, he was acquired by Paris Saint-Germain for US$4.6 million. He helped PSG win the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, scoring twice in a 3–1 home win against Parma. He returned to São Paulo in May 1998. On 9 August 1998, he ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his left knee. He retired in July 2000. In the 1994 World Cup, Raí captained Brazil during the group stage and scored a penalty in the opening match, a 2–0 win against Russia.

Reader's Guide

Raí often advanced from midfield to finish attacking moves and posed a particular danger from set pieces. His blend of technique and physical presence enabled him to influence matches both as a creator and as a scorer. Early in his career, he was criticised for his languid style and inconsistent work rate. Under Telê Santana at São Paulo, he developed greater tactical discipline and became a more complete midfielder. He later established himself as the central playmaker at Paris Saint-Germain, dictating his team's attacking play from midfield. His footballing intelligence, composure and leadership were also regarded as important aspects of his game.

Did You Know?

His name was derived from the first syllable of his father's name, Raimundo.
He co-founded the Fundação Gol de Letra with former teammate Leonardo in December 1998.
In 2024, he completed an Executive Master in Public Policy Management at Sciences Po.
He became a shareholder and ambassador of Paris FC in July 2022.

Early Career Foundations

Jardine was born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. After representing Grêmio's youth categories, he started studying Engineering but graduated in Physical Education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.

International Adventures and Return

Seeking regular minutes, Ramos embarked on an international journey in 2018 with Shukura Kobuleti in Georgia's Erovnuli Liga 2. He returned to Brazil and Londrina in January 2019, where his involvement with the senior squad increased significantly compared to previous years. His trajectory continued upward as he departed for Oeste on October 22, 2020. Shortly after, on July 14 of the following year, he secured a contract with Varzim within Portugal's Liga Portugal 2. This period marked his experience in European football before heading back home. In July 2022, he rejoined Brazilian football by signing for Ituano. During the 2023 Campeonato Paulista season, he established himself as a regular starter, contributing to a strong campaign that saw the club advance all the way to the semifinals of the state competition.

Rise to Série A Football

A major career milestone occurred on March 24, 2023, when he was officially announced as a new signing for Série A side São Paulo FC. His contract with the club extended until the end of 2025. He made his debut for the famous institution on April 18, starting in a match against Academia Puerto Cabello during the Copa Sudamericana, which concluded with a comfortable two-nil home victory. However, to maintain competitive rhythm, he was loaned out on December 12, 2023, joining Ceará until November 2024. This loan spell proved successful as he helped the team secure the Campeonato Cearense title in 2024. Following this period, his tenure with São Paulo concluded via an amicable termination announced on social networks in January 2025, paving the way for a new chapter at Atlético Goianiense.

Honours and Career Milestones

Throughout his journey across various Brazilian states and international borders, Ramos has accumulated specific honors that highlight his contributions to team success. His first major trophy came during his loan spell with Operário Ferroviário in 2016, where he won the Taça FPF. Years later, while on loan at Ceará, he added another significant accolade by winning the Campeonato Cearense in 2024. Beyond trophies, his consistency has been a defining trait, particularly during his time at Ituano where he was instrumental in reaching the state championship semifinals. Playing primarily as a right-back, his career path reflects resilience through periods of limited play and international adaptation. The transition from youth setups to top-flight Série A football demonstrates a steady progression, culminating in his official announcement with Atlético Goianiense early in 2025 after leaving São Paulo FC.

Youth Coaching and Interim Roles

Jardine joined Internacional in 2003, being appointed manager of the under-10s. He took over all the club's youth categories during his ten-year stay, with his last team being the under-20s. On 24 September 2013, he returned to Grêmio after being named under-17 manager. On 27 July 2014, after Enderson Moreira's dismissal, Jardine was named interim manager, being in charge for one match (a 2–1 loss against Vitória) before the appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari. Subsequently, he was named assistant, but ended the year as the coordinator of the under-15s after having altercations with Scolari. In February 2015, Jardine moved to São Paulo and was appointed at the helm of the under-20s. He was interim manager on two occasions (in 2016 and 2018) before being named assistant in March 2018. On 11 November 2018, he was named interim until the end of the campaign, replacing sacked Diego Aguirre. On 25 November 2018, Jardine was appointed manager of Tricolor for the 2019 season. The following 14 February, however, he was removed from his manager role, but remained at the club.

Brazil National Team and Olympic Gold

On 3 April 2019, Jardine took over the Brazil national under-20 team, replacing Carlos Amadeu. Later that year, he became the manager of the under-23s. Brazil went on to win the gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics defeating Spain in the final.

Mexico and Historic Success

On 3 February 2022, Jardine took over Liga MX side Atlético San Luis. On 16 June 2023, Club América reached an agreement with Atlético San Luis and appointed Jardine as their new manager. He became the third Brazilian manager in the club's history after Jorge Vieira and Paulo Roberto Falcão. On 17 December 2023, Club América defeated Tigres UANL to win its 14th championship, making Jardine one of only five managers in the history of the club to win the league trophy in their debut campaign. Six months later, Club América won its 15th championship, beating Cruz Azul 2–1 on aggregate. On 15 December 2024, Club América won its third consecutive league championship under Jardine, defeating Monterrey to become the first tricampeón of Mexican football in its current format. The following Clausura, Jardine led the club to a fourth consecutive final, finishing as runners-up to Toluca. On 3 June 2026, Jardine and Club América parted ways by mutual agreement.