Sandro Gaúcho (footballer, born 1968)

Sandro Rogério Formoso Pires (born 27 June 1968), also known as Sandro Pires and Sandro Gaúcho, is a Brazilian former professional footballer and manager, who played as a forward.

Career
Born in Bagé, Sandro Pires (later known as Sandro Gaúcho) became famous for having played for several clubs in Brazil, being top scorer in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in 1996 for Ypiranga de Erechim, champion for Sport Recife in 2000 and mainly for the title of the 2004 Copa do Brasil with EC Santo André, where he scored the final goal of the victory at the Maracanã Stadium against Flamengo. As a result, he is considered one of the greatest idols in the club's history, for which he ended his career in 2007.

Managerial career
Gaúcho had a brief career as a coach, managing the teams of Palestra São Bernardo, Poços de Caldas, Patrocinense, as well as EC Santo André in 2011.

Personal life
He is currently a technical assistant to coach Fahel Júnior. Sandro is also the brother of footballers Caçapava and Sabará, who played for SC Internacional in 1980s. His son Luís Gaúcho also played professionally in the minor divisions of Minas Gerais.

In 2012 he contested the municipal elections as a councilor in Santo André, but was not elected.

Honours

 * Sport
 * Campeonato Pernambucano: 2000


 * América
 * Campeonato Potiguar: 2003


 * Santo André
 * Copa do Brasil: 2004


 * Individual
 * 1996 Campeonato Gaúcho top scorer: 12 goals