FootballerBrazilianInternational PlayerManager

Nelsinho (footballer, born 1962)

Nélson Luís Kerchner, known as Nelsinho, is a retired Brazilian footballer and former manager who played as a defender for São Paulo FC, Flamengo, Corinthians, and Kashiwa Reysol.

1. Overview

Nélson Luís Kerchner (born on December 31, 1962, in São Paulo, Brazil), commonly known by his nickname Nelsinho, is a retired Brazilian footballer and former football manager. He primarily played as a defender. Throughout his playing career, Nelsinho was a prominent figure in Brazilian club football, notably with São Paulo FC, Flamengo, and Corinthians, before moving to Japan to play for Kashiwa Reysol. He also represented the Brazil national team internationally. After retiring as a player, he transitioned into coaching, including a stint with Inter de Limeira.

2. Playing Career

Nelsinho's professional football career spanned from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, during which he played for several notable clubs in Brazil and Japan, and also represented his national team.

2.1. Club Career

Nelsinho began his youth career at São Paulo FC, where he later made his professional debut. He spent a significant portion of his career with São Paulo, playing for the club from 1979 to 1992. During this period, he made 134 appearances in the Série A, scoring 1 goal.

In 1991, Nelsinho had a brief loan spell with Flamengo, where he played 7 league matches. Following his return to São Paulo, he eventually moved to Corinthians in 1992, making 11 appearances for the club.

In 1993, Nelsinho embarked on a new chapter in his career, moving to Japan to join Kashiwa Reysol. He played a crucial role for the club during his three seasons there. In the Japan Football League (JFL), he made 16 appearances in 1993, scoring 2 goals, and followed up with 29 appearances and 8 goals in 1994. His contributions were instrumental in Kashiwa Reysol's promotion to the J.League. In the 1995 season, he played 41 matches in the J1 League, scoring 6 goals.

Overall, Nelsinho accumulated 152 appearances and 1 goal in Brazilian league competitions, and 86 appearances and 16 goals in Japanese league competitions, totaling 238 club appearances and 17 goals across his career.

Club performanceLeague
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoals
BrazilLeague
1981São PauloSérie A90
198230
1983220
1984130
1985190
1986291
198790
1988130
1989170
1990FlamengoSérie A70
199100
1992São PauloSérie A110
1992CorinthiansSérie A00
JapanLeague
1993Kashiwa ReysolFootball League162
1994298
1995J1 League416
CountryBrazil1521
Japan8616
Total23817

2.2. International Career

Nelsinho represented the Brazil national team from 1987 to 1990. During this period, he earned 17 caps and scored 1 goal for his country. He was part of the Brazilian squad that participated in the 1987 Copa América held in Argentina.

Brazil national team
YearAppsGoals
1987111
198840
198910
199010
Total171

3. Managerial Career

After concluding his playing career, Nelsinho transitioned into football management. In 2004, he took on a coaching role at Inter de Limeira, a club based in Brazil.

4. Achievements and Awards

Nelsinho achieved notable successes during his playing career, both individually and with his teams.

  • Individual Awards**:
    • In 1986, he was recognized with the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) award, an annual award presented by Placar magazine to the best players in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
    • Team Achievements**:
      • He was a gold medalist with the Brazil national team at the Pan American Games in 1987.
      • With Kashiwa Reysol, Nelsinho played a key role in the club's promotion to the J.League.

5. Playing Style and Characteristics

Nelsinho primarily played as a defender, often deployed as a center-back. He was known for his solid defensive capabilities. A distinctive feature of his playing style was his powerful free kicks, which he could unleash effectively with his left foot, making him a threat from set-piece situations.