RIO DE JANEIRO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazil international defender and Flamengo idol Jose Rodrigues Neto died on Monday of a blood clot at the age of 69.
Rodrigues died at the Bonsucesso hospital in Rio de Janeiro, where he had been receiving treatment for thrombosis associated with diabetes.
"It is with immense sadness that we inform of the passing of Rodrigues Neto, one of the greatest players in Flamengo's history," the Rio de Janeiro club said in a statement.
Rodrigues Neto made 438 appearances for Flamengo from 1967 to 1975. He also represented Fluminense, Botafogo, Internacional and Boca Juniors before finishing his career with South China and Eastern SC in Hong Kong, China in the mid-1980s.
The left-back was capped 19 times for Brazil's national team and was a part of the Selecao squad at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.
