Zequinha (footballer, born 1987)


José Egas dos Santos Branco, known as Zequinha, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Vitória F.C. as a forward.

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 the B-side – and only three times – in both the country's second and third divisions.
In the summer of 2009, Zequinha was released and joined Primeira Liga newcomer 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.
In July 2011 Zequinha moved abroad, 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 Superleague where he stayed until 7 January 2014, signing with his very first 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 Atlético de Kolkata from C.D. Nacional.

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, 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.

Club statistics