Tatu (soccer)

Infobox Football biography
playername= Tatu
fullname = Antonio Carlos Pecorari
nickname = Tatu
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1962|2|1
cityofbirth = Martinique
countryofbirth = Brazil
height = height|ft=5|in=6
position = Forward
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1982-1984
1984-2003
clubs = Tampa Bay Rowdies
Dallas Sidekicks "(indoor)
caps(goals) = 60 (24)
557 (736)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps
manageryears = 1998-2003
managerclubs = Dallas Sidekicks
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

"Tatu", real name Antonio Carlos Pecorari, (born February 1, 1962 in Martinique, Brazil) is a former Brazilian football (soccer) player, one of the most accomplished indoor soccer players of all time.

Tatu came to the United States after playing with São Paulo in 1981. He had intended to play for several months, earning enough money to buy a house in São Paulo. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E6D81539F937A1575AC0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon= SOCCER; Tatu's 20-Year Run Nears an End in Dallas] ] He started with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 1984, Tatu moved to the Dallas Sidekicks of Major Indoor Soccer League. When Tatu moved to Dallas, the Cleveland Force sued the Sidekicks, arguing they had an agreement with him to purchase his contract from the Rowdies. The Sidekicks eventually gave the Force their second round 1985 draft choice. As a Dallas Sidekick he was a part of all four Sidekick's championship teams (1987, 1993, 1998, 2001). From 1984 until 1992, the Sidekicks played in MISL. The league collapsed in 1992 and Dallas moved to the newly created Continental Indoor Soccer League until that league also collapased in 1997. In 1998, the Sidekicks competed in the Premier Soccer Alliance. The PSA became the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. In 2002, Dallas entered the newly reconstituted Major Indoor Soccer League.

Tatu is a well respected sports figure in Dallas. Tatu's community involvement includes running many soccer camps in the Dallas area. When the Olympic Torch came through Dallas for the 2002 Salt Lake City games, Tatu had the honor as serving as the Torch Bearer.

In 1998, he replaced Gordon Jago as the head coach of the Dallas Sidekicks. Tatu is the only person to win the player of the year and the coach of the year in the same season (1998). As a head coach he went 63-53 in the regular season and 7-3 in the playoffs.

Tatu has many indoor soccer records. He is the second all-time in goal scoring with 857. He has the second most season played (21). Only Victor Nogueira has played more with 23 seasons. He is seventh on the all time list with games played (633). He is also second in points (1585), second in shots (4396), and second in game winning goals (77). He is the leader in power play goals with (113).

He is known for throwing his jersey into the crowd after scoring every goal, a tradition that started in Tampa. His nickname means armadillo in Portuguese.

He also spent a brief time in his coaching career coaching at The Highlands School in Irving, Texas, where he coached the Blazers to two state championships in the late 1990s. Tatu currently has been coaching several girls' soccer teams for the Sting Soccer Club in North Texas.

External links

* [http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/T/Tatu.htm Tatu's Rowdies stats]
* [http://www.kicksfan.com/players/tatu/tatu3.htm Tatu's Dallas stats]