| Waldir de Souza | |
| Birth Date: | 7 June 1952 |
| Birth Place: | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Height: | 1.83 m |
| Position: | Defender |
| Years1: | 1970–1975 |
| Years2: | 1976–1978 |
| Years3: | 1979 |
| Years4: | 1979–1980 |
| Years5: | 1980–1982 |
| Years6: | 1981–1982 |
| Years7: | 1982–1983 |
| Years8: | 1983–1984 |
| Years9: | 1984 |
| Years10: | 1984–1985 |
| Years11: | 1986–1987 |
| Years12: | 1989–1990 |
| Years13: | 1991 |
| Clubs1: | Palmeiras |
| Clubs2: | Windsor Stars |
| Clubs3: | New York Eagles |
| Clubs4: | Detroit Lightning (indoor) |
| Clubs5: | Baltimore Blast (indoor) |
| Clubs6: | Kansas City Comets (indoor) |
| Clubs7: | Phoenix Inferno (indoor) |
| Clubs8: | Buffalo Stallions (indoor) |
| Clubs9: | Charlotte Gold |
| Clubs10: | Columbus Capitals (indoor) |
| Clubs11: | Windsor Wheels |
| Clubs12: | Windsor Wheels |
| Clubs13: | Windsor Wheels |
| Caps4: | 20 |
| Caps5: | 39 |
| Caps6: | 37 |
| Caps7: | 43 |
| Caps8: | 12 |
| Caps10: | 16 |
| Goals4: | 4 |
| Goals5: | 13 |
| Goals6: | 12 |
| Goals7: | 4 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Goals10: | 1 |
| Manageryears1: | 1992 |
| Managerclubs1: | Windsor Wheels |
| Manageryears2: | 1994 |
| Managerclubs2: | Detroit Wheels |
Waldir de Souza (born 7 June 1952) is a Brazilian former football player and manager who played as a defender.
DeSouza played with Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.[1] In 1976, he played abroad in the National Soccer League with Windsor Stars.[2] In his debut season he was selected for the NSL Selects team.[3] He re-signed with Windsor for the 1977 season and also played in the 1978 season.[4] [5] In 1979, he played in the American Soccer League with New York Eagles.[6]
In the winter of 1979, he played in the Major Indoor Soccer League with Detroit Lightning.[7] The following season, he signed with league rivals Baltimore Blast.[8] After a season in Baltimore he was released and signed with the Kansas City Comets.[9] In 1982, he was traded to the Phoenix Inferno, and later played with Buffalo Stallions.[10] [11] In 1984, he played in the American Indoor Soccer Association with Columbus Capitals.
In the summer of 1984, he played in the United Soccer League with Charlotte Gold.[12] In 1986, he returned to the National Soccer League to play with Windsor Wheels.[13] The following he assisted in securing the regular season title for Windsor.[14] After a years, absence he returned to Windsor for the 1989 season.[15] In 1990, he departed from Windsor after a dispute with management over missed payments.[16]
After his departure from Windsor, he played with Caboto Sting in the Michigan-Ontario League where he assisted in securing the Ontario Cup.[17] He subsequently returned to Windsor for the 1991 season.[18]
In 1992, he transitioned into the managerial side and became the head coach for the Windsor Wheels in the National Soccer League.[19] In 1994, he served as an assistant coach under Mike Francis for the Detroit Wheels in the United States Interregional Soccer League.[20] [21] He later was elevated to the head coach position. He would also serve as an assistant coach for the Michigan Wolverines men's soccer.[22]