Lito (Cape Verdean footballer)


Cláudio Zélito da Fonseca Fernandes Aguiar, known as Lito, is a Cape Verdean retired footballer who played mainly as a forward.
He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 224 matches and 41 goals over eight seasons, representing in the competition Moreirense, Naval, Académica and Portimonense.

Club career

Born in Pedra Badejo, Santiago, Lito spent his entire football career in Portugal, playing at nearly every level. He started out with Grupo Desportivo Águias de Camarate in the regional leagues of Lisbon, going on to represent AD Fafe, S.C. Espinho, Imortal D.C. and F.C. Maia.
In the 2003–04 season, at the age of 28, Lito made his Primeira Liga debut, with Moreirense FC. After suffering relegation in his second year he stayed in that level, signing for Associação Naval 1º de Maio.
Aged 32, Lito joined Académica de Coimbra, enjoying his best seasons in his first two years. After still being an important attacking unit in the 2009–10 campaign, again helping the Students retain their top division status, he moved to freshly promoted club Portimonense S.C. for an undisclosed fee.
Lito retired in 2014, after one-season spells with F.C. Arouca, Atlético Clube de Portugal and C.D. Pinhalnovense. He later worked as a manager, with Sporting Clube da Praia in his native island.