The solid Manga
Born on April 26, 1937, in Recife, Brazil, Haílton Corrêa de Arruda, better known as Manga, was one of the greatest goalkeepers in Brazilian football history. The best platform to start betting on other amazing Brazilian footballers is 1xBet.
His career began in 1955 with Sport Recife, where he won 3 state championships before rising to prominence with Botafogo in 1959.
At Botafogo, Manga became a symbol of the club’s golden era, playing alongside icons like Garrincha and Nílton Santos. If you want to start betting on Botafogo, you should definitely give a try to the 1xBet platform today.
Over nearly a decade, he made more than 400 appearances and helped the team secure four Campeonato Carioca titles and three Torneio Rio-São Paulo trophies. His confidence, shot-stopping ability, and trademark bare hands made him a fan favorite.
An amazing player of his national team
In 1966, Manga represented Brazil at the FIFA World Cup in England, where he was the national team’s starting goalkeeper. There is a great football bet that can be made at 1xBet on the FIFA World Cup too.
Although Brazil exited early, Manga’s performance was widely respected, solidifying his place among the nation’s top keepers.
His next chapter took him to Uruguay, where he joined Nacional in 1969. There, he achieved even greater success, winning 4 consecutive Uruguayan league titles and leading the club to international glory. A bet on Uruguayan football is also available at 1xBet too.
In 1971, Manga helped Nacional capture a historical treble which had:
- the Copa Libertadores;
- the Intercontinental Cup;
- and the Copa Interamericana.
He also set a record by going over 600 minutes without conceding a goal in the Copa Libertadores.
Other aspects of his career
Manga even scored a goal himself in 1973, launching a long-range shot from his own area during a 7-0 victory. This was an incredibly rare feat for a goalkeeper. When making live sports betting with 1xbet.co.ke/en/live, it will also be possible to wager on whether a goalkeeper will score a goal too.
He returned to Brazil in the mid-1970s, playing for Internacional, where he added two Campeonato Brasileiro titles to his name. He later played for clubs including Operário, Coritiba, Grêmio, and finished his career at Barcelona SC in Ecuador in 1982, retiring at the age of 44. Some amazing South American football leagues are available for making live sports betting with the 1xBet platform too.
Renowned for his toughness and refusal to wear gloves, Manga’s hands bore the marks of a fearless career. He passed away on April 8, 2025, at the age of 87, remembered not only for his titles but for the heart and courage he brought to every match.
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