Araquem de Melo

Araquem José de Melo (7 July 1944 – 2001), commonly known as Araquem de Melo, was a Brazilian footballer who played for clubs in Uruguay, Argentina and Greece.

Araquem de Melo

Araquem de Melo Edemil
Personal information
Full name	Edemil Araquem de Melo
Date of birth	(1944-07-07)7 July 1944
Place of birth	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date of death	2001
Place of death	Venezuela
Position(s)	Midfielder / Forward
Youth career
	Vasco da Gama
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1966	Danubio		(12)
1968–1972	Huracán	59	(19)
1972–1974	Panathinaikos	37	(19)
1974–1975	Atromitos	12	(2)
1976	Toronto Panhellenic
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Araquem de Melo began playing football for the youth sides of local side Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama. He played for Danubio F.C. and was the Uruguayan league's top goal-scorer during the 1966 season.^[1] He played for Argentine side Club Atlético Huracán from 1968 to 1972.^[2]

In 1972, he joined Panathinaikos as the first Brazilian footballer to play for the club. He remains the leading goalscorer among Brazilians for Panathinaikos. Araquem de Melo scored 19 goals in 37 games with Panathinaikos, along with Juan Ramón Verón and Antonis Antoniadis making a great attacking line. In 1974, he played for Atromitos.^[3] In 1976, he played in the National Soccer League with Toronto Panhellenic where he assisted in securing the NSL Championship against Toronto First Portuguese.^[4]

Retirement

After he retired from playing football, Araquem de Melo founded a football school in Brazil. His brother, Arnout de Melo, assumed responsibility for the club after Araquem's death in 2001.^[5]

In 2001, he committed suicide, due to debt problems.^[6]