BELO HORIZONTE, Apr 22 (SW) - 74-year-old Brazilian coaching legend Tele Santana died on Friday in a Belo Horizonte hospital. One of the greatest coaches of Brazilian football ever, Santana's highest ranked achievements led Sao Paulo to two South American Copas Libertadores and two FIFA World Club Cups in 1992 and 1993.

Santana was forced to retire from coaching in 1996 due to ischemia, and has been in hospital since the end of March with abdominal infection, which eventually caused his death.

His long and prosperous coaching career started in the 1960's, at Rio De Janeiro-based club Fluminense, reaching an early summit in 1971 when he led Belo Horizonte's most famous outfit, Atletico Mineiro to the first place of the inaugural Brazilian championship.

Though he later on coached Brazilian top clubs Flamengo, Palmeiras and Gremio as well, his most famous achievements were coaching two legendary Brazilian World Cup sides, in 1982 and 1986. As a firm believer in 'Jogo Bonito - Beautiful Football', he used the stars of the era, Zico, Socrates, Falcao and Junior to form a side known for its breathtaking style of play. Even though these sides never made it to a final, both are remembered and respected as legendary teams.

After a brief spell at Flamengo, Santana went on to coach FC Sao Paulo in 1990, where he built one of the best club sides in history, with the likes of Brazilian stars Zetti, Rai, Dunga or the young Cafú. Two Libertadores Cup victories were followed up by beating Johann Cruyff's Barcelona and Fabio Capello's AC Milan in two successive FIFA World Club Cup finals.