Ari Paulino Clemente da Silva (born 7 January 1939) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Personal Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ari Paulino Clemente da Silva |
| Date of birth | 7 January 1939 (age 87) |
| Place of birth | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Position | Defender |
Senior Career
| Years | Team |
|---|---|
| 1958–1964 | Corinthians |
| 1965–1967 | Bangu |
| 1967 | → Houston Stars (loan) |
| 1968–1970 | Saad |
International Career
| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 1961 | Brazil (1 cap) |
Career
Clemente began his professional career at Corinthians, where he played from 1958 to 1964, appearing in 295 matches. He later transferred to Bangu, where he played from 1965 to 1967. In 1967, he was loaned to the Houston Stars of the United Soccer Association (USA) in the United States. He finished his playing career with Saad from 1968 to 1970. Clemente earned one cap for the Brazil national team in 1961.
According to historical accounts, Clemente is also noted for a heavy tackle on Pelé during a training match against the Brazilian national team just before the 1958 FIFA World Cup, which nearly sidelined the young star from the tournament.
After retiring from football, Clemente worked as an employee of Banco Excel and later served as a security guard for banker Ezequiel Nasser for 30 years.
