Zequinha (footballer, born 1987) explained

Zequinha
Fullname:José Egas dos Santos Branco[1]
Birth Date:7 January 1987
Birth Place:Setúbal, Portugal
Height:1.83 m
Position:Forward, winger
Currentclub:Belenenses
Clubnumber:87
Youthyears1:1994–2004
Youthyears2:2004–2005
Youthclubs1:Vitória Setúbal
Youthclubs2:Porto
Years1:2005–2009
Years2:2006–2007
Years3:2007
Years4:2008
Years5:2008–2009
Years6:2009–2011
Years7:2011
Years8:2011–2013
Years9:2013–2014
Years10:2014–2015
Years11:2015–2017
Years12:2017
Years13:2017–2018
Years14:2018–2024
Years15:2024–
Clubs1:Porto B
Clubs2:Tourizense (loan)
Clubs3:Penafiel (loan)
Clubs4:Gondomar (loan)
Clubs5:Gil Vicente (loan)
Clubs6:Olhanense
Clubs7:Fátima (loan)
Clubs8:AEL
Clubs9:Panthrakikos
Clubs10:Vitória Setúbal
Clubs11:Arouca
Clubs12:Nacional
Clubs13:ATK
Clubs14:Vitória Setúbal
Clubs15:Belenenses
Caps1:3
Caps2:18
Caps3:3
Caps4:12
Caps5:26
Caps6:17
Caps7:11
Caps8:48
Caps9:15
Caps10:42
Caps11:32
Caps12:12
Caps13:13
Caps14:135
Caps15:12
Goals1:0
Goals2:5
Goals3:0
Goals4:3
Goals5:4
Goals6:1
Goals7:1
Goals8:10
Goals9:2
Goals10:6
Goals11:2
Goals12:1
Goals13:2
Goals14:44
Goals15:1
Nationalyears1:2002–2003
Nationalyears2:2003–2004
Nationalyears3:2004
Nationalyears4:2005–2006
Nationalyears5:2006–2007
Nationalteam1:Portugal U16
Nationalteam2:Portugal U17
Nationalteam3:Portugal U18
Nationalteam4:Portugal U19
Nationalteam5:Portugal U20
Nationalcaps1:10
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalcaps4:6
Nationalcaps5:13
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalgoals5:4
Club-Update:21:36, 10 June 2024 (UTC)

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.[2] [3] 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).[4]

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.[5] 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.[6]

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[7] where he stayed until 7 January 2014,[8] signing with his boyhood club Vitória F.C. three days later and renewing his contract for three years in December 2014.[9]

On 11 August 2017, Zequinha joined Indian Super League franchise ATK from C.D. Nacional.[10] He returned to Portugal and its top flight in July 2018, on a two-year deal at Vitória de Setúbal.[11] In the 2022–23 season he scored 15 goals, but his team was relegated to the fourth tier;[12] they had already met that fate in 2019–20 – from the main division – due to financial irregularities.[13]

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.[14] [15]

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,[16] [17] and both players were suspended from international football, Zequinha for one year.[18]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Porto B2004–05Segunda Divisão1010
2005–06Segunda Divisão2020
Total3030
Tourizense (loan)2006–07Segunda Divisão18510195
Penafiel (loan)2007–08Segunda Liga303060
Gondomar (loan)2007–08Segunda Liga12200122
Gil Vicente (loan)2008–09Segunda Liga26451315
2009–10Primeira Liga17120191
Fátima (loan)2010–11Segunda Liga11100111
AEL2011–12[19] Football League19610206
2012–13Football League29420314
Total4810305110
Panthrakikos2013–14Super League Greece15210162
Vitória Setúbal2013–14Primeira Liga10210112
2014–15Primeira Liga31460374
2015–16Primeira Liga100010
Total42670496
Arouca2015–16Primeira Liga25160311
2016–17Primeira Liga713030131
Total3229030442
Nacional2016–17Primeira Liga12100121
ATK2017–18[20] Indian Super League13210142
Career total250353213028536

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zequinha. Mais Futebol. pt. 22 July 2020.
  2. https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/fc-porto/detalhe/zequinha-e-o-novo-reforco-junior Zequinha é o novo reforço júnior (Zequinha is new junior signing)
  3. http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=417081 Zequinha: «Empate foi positivo» (Zequinha: "Draw was positive")
  4. https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/gil-vicente/detalhe/zequinha-para-cantar-de-galo Zequinha para cantar de galo (Zequinha the new rooster)
  5. http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=402969 Zequinha assina por 3 anos (Zequinha signs for 3 years)
  6. https://desporto.sapo.cv/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/olhanense-estreia-se-com-um-empate-0-0-diante-da-naval Olhanense estreia-se com um empate 0–0 diante da Naval (Olhanense make debut with 0–0 draw against Naval)
  7. Panthrakikos FC, 1 July 2013 (in Greek)
  8. Panthrakikos FC, 7 January 2014 (in Greek)
  9. https://www.dn.pt/desporto/futebol-nacional/interior/vitoria-de-setubal-renovou-com-zequinha-por-tres-anos-4276862.html Vitória de Setúbal renovou com Zequinha por três anos (Vitória de Setúbal renewed with Zequinha for three years)
  10. News: ATK sign Portuguese forward Jose Egas for upcoming ISL. The Indian Express. 11 August 2017. 11 August 2017.
  11. Web site: Zequinha volta ao Vitória de Setúbal e assina até 2020. Zequinha returns to Vitória de Setúbal and signs until 2020. SAPO. pt. 24 July 2018. 22 January 2024.
  12. News: Capitão Zequinha não exclui final da carreira nem a saída do Vitória. Captain Zequinha does not rule out ending career nor leaving Vitória. O Setubalense. Ricardo. Lopes Pereira. pt. 10 May 2023. 22 January 2024.
  13. News: Vitória de Setúbal desce mesmo de divisão. Tribunal Arbitral do Desporto rejeita providência cautelar. Vitória de Setúbal are finally relegated. Court of Arbitration for Sport rejects precautionary measure. Observador. pt. 27 August 2020. 22 January 2024.
  14. Web site: Zequinha é reforço para o Belenenses. Zequinha is reinforcement for Belenenses. C.F. Os Belenenses. pt. 22 January 2024. 22 January 2024.
  15. News: Mercado: Zequinha deixa o Vitória de Setúbal e reforça Belenenses. Market: Zequinha leaves Vitória de Setúbal and reinforces Belenenses. A Bola. Eduardo. Pedrosa Marques. pt. 22 January 2024. 22 January 2024.
  16. https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/canada2007/results/match=58886/summary.html Vidal off after sinking Portugal
  17. http://www.soccerblog.com/2007/07/referee_loses_his_red_card.htm Referee loses his red card
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014205907/http://portugal.worldcupblog.org:80/under-20/zequinha-suspended-for-one-year-mano-for-three-months.html Zequinha suspended for one year; Mano for three months
  19. Web site: Zequinha. Soccerway. 19 November 2017.
  20. Web site: Zequinha. Flash Score. 29 April 2018.