Merica (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Valdemiro Lima da Silva | ||
| Date of birth | 13 September 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil | ||
| Date of death | 13 September 2025 (aged 72) | ||
| Place of death | Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brazil | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ferroviário (Alagoinhas) | |||
| Ideal (Santo Amaro) | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1973–1974 | Atlético de Alagoinhas | ||
| 1975–1978 | Flamengo | 182 | (9) |
| 1978 | Bahia | ||
| 1979 | America-RJ | ||
| 1980–1984 | Sport Recife | ||
| 1984–1985 | Nacional-AM | ||
| 1985 | Confiança | ||
| 1986 | Rio Negro-AM | ||
| 1986–1988 | Confiança | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Valdemiro Lima da Silva (13 September 1953 – 13 September 2025), better known as Merica, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Career
A defensive midfielder, Merica began his career in the city of Alagoinhas, first as an amateur with Ferroviário and then as a professional with Atlético de Alagoinhas. In 1976 he was hired by Flamengo where he made 182 appearances.[1][2] It was said that he played like two players, due to his application and intensity in defensive system.[3] He later returned to the northeast, where he was state champion for Bahia, Sport Recife and Confiança.[4][5]
Death
Merica died in Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brazil on 13 September 2025, at the age of 72.[6][7]
Honours
Flamengo
- Torneio Quadrangular de Jundiaí: 1975
- Taça Geraldo Cleofas Dias Alves: 1976
- Taça Cidade de São Paulo: 1976
- Taça Governador Elmo Cerejo: 1976
- Taça Nelson Rodrigues: 1976
- Taça Duque de Caxias: 1976
- Troféu Antonio Valmir Campelo Bezerra: 1977
Bahia
- Campeonato Baiano: 1978
Sport Recife
- Campeonato Pernambucano: 1980, 1981, 1982
Confiança
- Campeonato Sergipano: 1986, 1988
References
- ^ "Jogadores do Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (Merica)". Flaestatística (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Lembra-se do Merica? Pois é, batia uma bolinha responsa". Museu da Pelada (in Portuguese). 13 September 2018. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024.
- ^ Jonas Henrique (10 August 2023). "Merica: O Volante Aguerrido do Flamengo e Suas Conquistas". Raizes do Futebol (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Que fim levou? Merica (Ex-volante do Flamengo)". Terceiro Tempo (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Merica". Atlético de Alagoinhas (official website) (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 13 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Morreu aos 72 anos, Merica, ex-volante do Bahia". emcimadolance.com.br (in Portuguese). 13 September 2025. Archived from the original on 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Luto! Icônico volante do Flamengo dos anos 1970 morre no dia de seu aniversário". Futebol Interior (in Portuguese). 13 September 2025. Archived from the original on 13 September 2025.