When Brazil & Jamaica Clashed In Leicester

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When Brazil & Jamaica Clashed In Leicester

Eighteen years ago today (12 October), Filbert Way was decorated with the vibrant national colours of Brazil and Jamaica for a very special international friendly at the home of Leicester City.

2021-10-12T11:31:00.000Z

When Brazil & Jamaica Clashed In Leicester

Eighteen years ago today (12 October), Filbert Way was decorated with the vibrant national colours of Brazil and Jamaica for a very special international friendly at the home of Leicester City.

2021-10-12T11:31:00.000Z

When Brazil & Jamaica Clashed In Leicester

Eighteen years ago today (12 October), Filbert Way was decorated with the vibrant national colours of Brazil and Jamaica for a very special international friendly at the home of Leicester City.

2021-10-12T11:31:00.000Z

When Brazil & Jamaica Clashed In Leicester

Eighteen years ago today (12 October), Filbert Way was decorated with the vibrant national colours of Brazil and Jamaica for a very special international friendly at the home of Leicester City.

2021-10-12T11:31:00.000Z

When Brazil & Jamaica Clashed In Leicester

Eighteen years ago today (12 October), Filbert Way was decorated with the vibrant national colours of Brazil and Jamaica for a very special international friendly at the home of Leicester City.

2021-10-12T11:31:00.000Z

When Walkers Stadium, now King Power Stadium, was built in 2002, the Club’s hierarchy had always intended for it to host showpiece occasions such as these.

A carnival atmosphere built steadily outside the stadium with dancers, singers and street performers bringing a slice of Jamaican and Brazilian culture to Leicester. A capacity crowd packed into the ground, presenting a sea of eye-catching colour and enthusiasm seldom witnessed at an English football ground before.

Carlos Alberto Parreira's Brazil were the most romanticised footballing side on the planet after breezing to the World Cup title in the summer of 2002. The starting XI had the answer why: Dida, Cafu, Lucio, Roque Junior, Roberto Carlos, Emerson, Kaká, Gilberto Silva, Ze Roberto, Rivaldo, Ronaldo.

Every single name on their teamsheet that day still provokes fond memories for football fans even today, 18 years later. One name - that of Ronaldinho - was absent.

Perhaps one of the best, if not the most popular, member of Parreira's Brazil crop, the iconic midfielder was not there, but he nonetheless contributed to the official matchday programme.

Ronaldinho had already visited Leicester just two months earlier to represent FC Barcelona in a pre-season friendly against the Foxes - and it was clear that the city had left its mark on the Brazilian.

"I have great memories of the way I was treated in Leicester," he said. "When I came out onto the pitch for the first time, I was being booed by the fans.

"When I was substituted in the second half, everyone was applauding and clapping me. That kind of turnaround has happened only once before in my career. It was something very special for me."

A trademark rocket from Roberto Carlos ultimately won the match 1-0, but the result was of little consequence for the supporters in attendance, all of whom enjoyed an experience like no other on Filbert Way.

Foxes defender Frank Sinclair, meanwhile, will always look back on the occasion fondly after making his final-ever Jamaica appearance during the encounter at Leicester's home venue.

The Chelsea academy graduate was a regular in Micky Adams' City line-up at the time, but his international career was coming to a close. The clash with Brazil was ultimately his swansong for Jamaica.

Sinclair said goodbye to international football among some of the greatest players ever and, by doing it on Filbert Way, all of his family were in attendance to provide moral support.

"I heard on the grapevine that the Jamaican FA were trying to organise a friendly with Brazil but I didn't have a clue where it was going to be," Sinclair said.

"Then the news came through and I was delighted to hear that I would be able to play at my home ground. That was the perfect scenario for me. It was my last international game. It was at my home stadium. It was against Brazil. I had my family there too, so it was great!"

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