Blog 5A: Hibernian in the Maracanã 1953
In 1953, Hibernian FC became the first Scottish club to tour Brazil, invited to the “Octogonal Rivadávia Corrêa Meyer” tournament, which is sometimes called the first “World Club Championship”. Although Hibs finished at the bottom of their group, they left a lasting impression, most notably with a 3-3 draw against Brazilian champions Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã Stadium. The club’s pioneering trip and impressive play earned them a legendary status in Brazil that influenced Brazilian football for decades.
Hibernian were invited to participate in the Octogonal Rivadávia Corrêa Meyer, a tournament organized by the Brazilian FA that included clubs like Botafogo, Corinthians, and São Paulo, as well as Vasco da Gama and Portugal’s Sporting CP.
The highlight of the tour was the 3-3 draw against Vasco da Gama in a packed Maracanã Stadium. Hibernian’s goals came from Eddie Turnbull and a brace from Lawrie Reilly. Despite not winning the tournament, Hibs’ innovative style and willingness to travel made them pioneers.
The team finished last in their mini-league, but made a strong impression on the Brazilian public and clubs. Despite the results, Hibernian’s performance and style of play were highly praised, leaving a lasting impression in Brazil. Brazilian clubs were so impressed that Botafogo attempted to sign Gordon Smith and Lawrie Reilly, who declined the offer.
A football encyclopedia published in Brazil before the 1970 World Cup dedicated a chapter to Hibernian and their tactical innovations, citing the influence of their “Famous Five” forward line on Brazilian football’s development. The trip cemented Hibs’ reputation as an avant-garde team that was willing to experiment, which was further demonstrated by their participation in the inaugural European Cup a couple of years later, in season 1955/56.
Some journalists contend that the subsequent dominance of Brazil was inspired by none other than our very own Hibernian FC, and that the Hibs ‘Famous Five’ of Gordon Smith, Willie Ormond, Eddie Turnbull, Bobby Johnstone and Lawrie Reilly were the real inspiration behind Brazil’s storm to dominance of international football. Brazil’s football manual allegedly contained drawings showing Hibs’ tactics. Brazil’s players and coaches are said to have recognised the new dynamic that Hibs had brought to football, adopted it, and then improved on it.
It was, of course, in the 1950s, that Brazil became a major footballing force, and their evolution culminated in the 1970 World Cup win in Mexico, Brazil’s team back then widely being acknowledged as the best coached of all time. Brazil’s disaster in 1966 in England made the samba stars determined to triumph in Mexico, and in the 4 years between ’66 and ’70, they adopted a new training regime , based on what they had learned from Edinburgh’s own Hibernian FC. Brazil employed this same style of play right up until USA ’94.
That’s what Google Lens tells us, so I feel it must be true!
