The Praca Charles Miller Square in Sao Paulo commemorates the man who brought football to Brazil. Charles was born in 1874 into a wealthy Anglo-Brazilian family. His father left Glasgow to work in the coffee industry and Charles, at 10 years old, was sent to Bannisters boarding school in Southampton. In Brazil at the time there were thousands of immigrants from Britain "opening up" the country.
Nicknamed, "Nipper", Miller was a competent sportsman, enjoying football and cricket at school and his prowess led to him being asked to play for St Mary's, the original Southampton club and the Corinthians FC (now known as the non-league club, the famous Corinthian Casuals).
In 1894 Miller left England for Brazil and he took with him two footballs and an FA rule book, determined to encourage the ex-pats and locals to play football rather than cricket, which seemed to be more popular.
Miller soon enjoyed football's expansion in the local area, and by 1895 he formed a "football division" of the Sao Paulo Athletic Club, originally set up in 1888 by the British colonials mainly for cricket, tennis and the like. There was match arranged between the Railway and Gas companies which the Railways won 4-2.
In 1901, he helped found the la Liga Paulista de football with four other clubs and SPAC won the first three years' of titles. Word spread to neighbouring towns and Botafogo and Fluminese were soon formed. Touring sides from England soon enjoyed Brazilian hospitality and inevitably the Coritnhians visited in 1910 and founded the now the Corinthians FC, named by Miller.
Sao Paulo 1904: Miller is the one with the moustache! Only joking...he is the one in the middle at the front.
The Brazilian Football Confederation was founded in 1914.
Miller maintained his interest in football, refereeing a Championship decider as late in his life as 1949, at 75 years old. The spectacular showboating backheeled cross trick is known as the "Chaleira", named after Charles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTcGekWZ05Q
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