José Marcelo Ferreira (born 25 July 1973), commonly known as Zé Maria, is a retired Brazilian football player turned coach. He is currently working for Parma as a technical collaborator within the club's youth system.
Known for his pin-point crosses, he could play either as a right back or right midfielder, and played the vast majority of his professional career, other than in his country, in Italy's Serie A, where he represented three teams, mainly Perugia.
Club career
Born in Oeiras, Piauí, Zé Maria started his professional career with Portuguesa in 1991, being loaned two times during his contract with the club. In 1995, he was selected in the Bola de Prata Brazilian League team of the year. This led to him being signed by Flamengo in 1996.
In the summer, Zé Maria moved to Italy after signing with Serie A club Parma, playing regularly for two seasons. Subsequently, he remained in Italy, joining Perugia.
After two seasons with giants Inter[2] – playing rather regularly in his first but making only eight appearances (mostly as a substitute) in his second (with Inter winning the Scudetto courtesy of the Calciopoli affair), 49 official ones overall – Zé Maria was released and joined La Liga club Levante UD on a free transfer:[3] starting the season as first-choice right-back the 33-year-old lost the position and finished with 14 league appearances, with the Valencians barely avoiding relegation.
Released again, Zé Maria entailed unsuccessful negotiations with several teams, reportedly Sheffield United[4] and Queens Park Rangers in England, thus returning to Brazil and Portuguesa in January 2008. In August, after having rescinded his contract, he surprisingly accepted an offer from A.S.D. Città di Castello, in the Italian Eccellenza (amateur championships).[5]
Zé Maria settled in Italy after his retirement from football, at the age of 36.[6] He subsequently founded a football school in Perugia.[7]
Zé Maria won his first silverware with the club later on 6 September, the 2017 Albanian Supercup, with Tirana defeating Kukësi thanks to an Erion Hoxhallari late winner.[14] By doing so, Tirana become the first ever Albanian First Division club to win the supercup.[14] Tirana begun the championship by recording a 1–0 home win versus Iliria Fushë-Krujë.[15] They successfully eliminated Besa Kavajë 4–1 on aggregate in the 2017–18 Albanian Cup first round.[16] Tirana ended September by winning all the matches, and did so also in November, taking the lead of Group B.[17] During his time, Zé Maria also guided Tirana to the biggest win of the season, 6–0 versus Shkumbini Peqin.[18]
Tirana finished the year in the first place, conceding only one defeat, the one versus Bylis Ballsh.[19] Zé Maria called the defeat "a shame".[19] The team also eliminated Vllaznia Shkodër in the second round of Albanian Cup.[20] In January 2018, Tirana brought Kenneth Muguna, Mohammed Musa and Samson Iliasu at the request of Zé Maria.[21][22] In February 2018, Tirana was eliminated by Kukësi in the quarter-final of Albanian Cup.[23]
Tirana continued their winning streak, eventually finished top of Group B to qualify to promotion play-off.[24] Later on 14 April, the team mathematically achieved promotion to top flight next season by winning 3–2 at home against Pogradeci.[25] On 16 May, Tirana was named Albanian First Division champions after beating 2–0 the Group A winners Kastrioti Krujë.[26] Later on 2 June, Zé Maria agreed a contract extension with the club until June 2020.[27]
Later years
On 5 October 2022, Parma announced to have hired Zé Maria as a technical collaborator for the youth team.[28]