Argel Fucks


Argélico Fucks, commonly known as Argel, is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a central defender, and a current manager.

Playing career

Club

Argel was born in Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul. He began his career with Sport Club Internacional, Santos FC and Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, with a brief stint in Japan in between and an unsuccessful spell at Portugal's FC Porto, which finished after a serious run-in with the board of directors and prompted his Brazil return.
In early June 2001, Argel returned to Portugal with S.L. Benfica, which he helped win the Primeira Liga in his fourth season and the domestic supercup, the former after an 11-year drought. The player contributed to this feat with ten matches and one goal.
After falling down the pecking order at Benfica, Argel had a six-month stay at Racing de Santander, going on to retire in 2007 after representing Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, Canoas Sport Club and Chinese club Zhejiang Lucheng FC.

International

Argel represented Brazil at under-20 level, winning both the South American Youth Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup. On 29 March 1995 he earned his only cap for the full side, appearing in a friendly against Honduras.

Coaching career

Argel's managerial career began when he was hired as Guaratinguetá Futebol's head coach on 8 February 2008, being sacked exactly one year later. Three days later, he was hired by Sociedade Esportiva e Recreativa Caxias do Sul.
On 2 June 2009, Argel was hired by Campinense Clube in the same capacity, replacing Fernando Teixeira. On 9 April of the following year, he signed for Criciúma Esporte Clube.
Argel was announced as coach of former club Internacional on 13 August 2015, after leaving Figueirense FC which he had already managed on two separate spells. He was fired on 11 July after six games without a win, but hours later he returned to Figueirense.
On 13 September 2016, Argel was named head coach of Esporte Clube Vitória. The following 1 May, after elimination from the Copa do Nordeste against Esporte Clube Bahia and the massive brawl that ensued, he was sacked. This was his tenth dismissal in the decade – three alone in 2011 – while he had also resigned from seven jobs; only at Figueirense did he complete a full year in charge of a team.
After rejoining Criciúma, Argel was dismissed in May 2018. In September, he was announced as the new manager of fellow Série B team Coritiba Foot Ball Club, being relieved of his duties on 16 February 2019 after being knocked out of the Copa do Brasil.
On 2 July 2019, Argel replaced Marcelo Cabo at the helm of first division newcomers Centro Sportivo Alagoano. On 28 November, he took over fellow top-tier side Ceará Sporting Club in the place of fired Adílson Batista, but was dismissed the following 9 February.

Surname

Some of Argel's fame stemmed from his surname, which coincided with a form of the English word "fuck". This led to some double entendre headlines, including one from Eurosport.com titled "Fucks off to Benfica". This headline received press coverage itself with The Register calling it "snappy and eye-catching", and football humour site Laugh FC deeming it "one of the all time greats".

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Club

Internacional
Santos
Porto
Palmeiras
Benfica
Brazil U-17
Brazil U-20