Zequinha (footballer, born 1987)
Introduction '''José Egas dos Santos Branco''' (born 7 January 1987), known as '''Zequinha''', is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Liga Portugal 2 club Belenenses.
Club career Born in Setúbal, Zequinha was an unsuccessful youth graduate at FC Porto. He went on to serve consecutive loans in the following three years after having appeared for their reserves – and only three times – in both the country's second and third divisions (G.D. Tourizense, F.C. Penafiel, Gondomar S.C. and Gil Vicente FC).In the summer of 2009, Zequinha was released and joined Primeira Liga newcomers S.C. Olhanense on a free transfer, penning a three-year contract. He made his debut in the competition on 16 August, playing 72 minutes in a 0–0 away draw against Associação Naval 1º de Maio.Zequinha moved abroad in July 2011, signing for two years with Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. in Greece. After two seasons in division two he signed with Panthrakikos F.C. in the Super League where he stayed until 7 January 2014, signing with his boyhood club Vitória F.C. three days later and renewing his contract for three years in December 2014.On 11 August 2017, Zequinha joined Indian Super League franchise ATK from C.D. Nacional. He returned to Portugal and its top flight in July 2018, on a two-year deal at Vitória de Setúbal. In the 2022–23 season he scored 15 goals, but his team was relegated to the fourth tier; they had already met that fate in 2019–20 – from the main division – due to financial irregularities.Zequinha totalled 154 appearances and 46 goals in all competitions during his second spell at the Estádio do Bonfim. On 22 January 2024, the 37-year-old free agent returned to division two by signing a one-year contract with C.F. Os Belenenses.
International career Zequinha represented Portugal at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, playing and starting all four matches for the team, albeit without scoring. In the round-of-16 defeat against Chile (1–0), he stripped referee Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh of his red card as the official was going to send his teammate Mano off; subsequently he received his marching orders as well, and both players were suspended from international football, Zequinha for one year.
Career statistics +A'''ppearances and goals by club, season and competition'''ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPorto B2004–05Segunda Divisão10——102005–06Segunda Divisão20——20Total30——30Tourizense (loan)2006–07Segunda Divisão18510—195Penafiel (loan)2007–08Segunda Liga3030—60Gondomar (loan)2007–08Segunda Liga12200—122Gil Vicente (loan)2008–09Segunda Liga26451—315Olhanense 2009–10Primeira Liga17120—191Fátima (loan)2010–11Segunda Liga11100—111AEL2011–12Football League19610—2062012–13Football League29420—314Total481030—5110Panthrakikos2013–14Super League Greece15210—162Vitória Setúbal2013–14Primeira Liga10210—1122014–15Primeira Liga31460—3742015–16Primeira Liga1000—10Total42670—496Arouca2015–16Primeira Liga25160—3112016–17Primeira Liga713030131Total3229030442Nacional2016–17Primeira Liga12100—121ATK2017–18Indian Super League13210—142Career total250353213028536
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