Graciano Brito (born June 2, 1985 in São Nicolau) is a Cape Verdean football coach and former professional player. Brito is currently the head coach for the men's soccer team at Siena College.

Graciano Brito
Personal information
Full name Graciano Brito
Date of birth (1985-06-02) June 2, 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth São Nicolau, Cape Verde
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Forward
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Quinnipiac Bobcats
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Operário dos Açores
2011 F.C. New York 12 (4)
2012 Rochester Rhinos 13 (2)
2013 Connecticut FC Azul 3 (2)
Managerial career
2012–2020 Quinnipiac Bobcats (assistant)
2020– Siena Saints
2020– Black Watch Premier (technical staff)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 24, 2022

Career

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Youth and college

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Brito came from his native Cape Verde to the United States in 2004,[1] settling with relatives in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and played college soccer at Quinnipiac University. As a junior in 2007 he was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-America Second Team, was featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces In The Crowd" section, was selected to the NSCAA/adidas North Atlantic Region First Team, and was named Northeast Conference Player of the Year, the first Quinnipiac men's soccer player to earn the award since 2001. As a senior in 2008 he was named the NEC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, was Quinnipiac’s Male Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row, and was named to the All-NEC First Team, was an NCSAA/adidas All-American for the third consecutive year, and was a College Soccer News All-American. He finished his four-year career with Quinnipiac as the program’s Division I career leader in goals (40) and points (92).

Professional

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Brito was an assistant coach at Quinnipiac in 2009,[2] attended the 2009 MLS Combine, and briefly played professionally for Operário dos Açores in the Portuguese Second Division 2010,[3] before becoming the first player to sign with the expansion FC New York of the new USL Professional League when he signed in February 2011.[4] He scored the only goal of FCNY's first ever league victory, 1-0 over the Charleston Battery on May 13.[5]

Brito signed with Rochester Rhinos of USL Pro on February 2, 2012.[6]

Coaching

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Brito returned to his alma mater Quinnipiac University in 2012 to take a role as an assistant coach with the men's soccer team. Brito coached with the Bobcats for eight seasons before being appointed head coach at Siena College.[7] Brito also joined the technical staff of Black Watch Premier Academy in 2020.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Striker Attack: Graciano Brito[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ http://www.quinnipiacbobcats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17500&ATCLID=1251078[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Graciano Brito Signs Professional Contract In Portugal[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "F.C. New York Sign two time NSCAA All-American Graciano Brito". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  5. ^ http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+Elements/Display+E+47107+Stats/+2175622[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  7. ^ "Graciano Brito Appointed Siena Men's Soccer Head Coach". SienaSaints.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Black Watch Premier Albany Adds Graciano Brito to Technical Staff". BlackWatchPremier.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
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