(30 January 1942 – 28 February 2012)
Born in Setúbal, Graça made his professional – and first division – debuts with local Vitória Futebol Clube, appearing in nearly 150 official games in five seasons and helping the Sadinos to the domestic cup final in his last year.
In the 1966 summer, after scoring 27 goals in his last two seasons with Vitória combined, he signed with S.L. Benfica, where he would win seven national championships and three Portuguese Cups, playing 229 matches all competitions comprised (29 goals). He netted the equalizer in the 1967–68 European Cup final, a 1–4 extra time loss against Manchester United.[1]
After only six appearances in his last two years combined, 33-year-old Graça returned to his first club, retiring from the game in 1977 with Portuguese top flight (the only division he competed in) totals of 303 matches and 56 goals. He was in charge of C.D. Santa Clara as the Azores side was promoted to the second division in 1987, but could not prevent relegation the following year.
On 5 December 1966, Benfica's new hydro massage bath short-circuited with seven players immersed. Luciano Fernandeswas electrocuted before Graça – an electrician by trade before he became a professional footballer – could save himself and the others, and the team played the rest of that season in black.[2][3]
Graça collected 36 caps for the Portugal national team and scored four goals, mostly whilst as a Benfica player. His debut came on 24 January 1965, in a 5–1 home win against Turkey for the 1966 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Graça was selected for the final stages in England, appearing in all the games for the eventual third-placed team.[4] He also represented the nation in the Brazilian Independence Cup in 1972, where Portugal lost to hosts Brazil, in what would be his last international appearance.
Graça assisted José Torres in the ill-fated 1986 World Cup in Mexico, marred by the Saltillo Affair.
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 January 1965 | Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal |  Turkey | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1966 World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 13 November 1966 | Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal |  Sweden | 1–0 | 1–2 | Euro 1968 qualifying |
| 3 | 12 November 1967 | Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal |  Norway | 2–1 | 2–1 | Euro 1968 qualifying |
| 4 | 2 July 1972 | Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Uruguay | 1–1 | 1–1 | Brazilian Independence Cup |
On 28 February 2012, Graça died at the Lusíadas Hospital in Lisbon after a long battle with illness. He was 70 years old.[5]
- Setúbal
- Taça de Portugal: Runner-up 1965–66
- Benfica
- Primeira Divisão: 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75[6]
- Taça de Portugal:[7] 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72
- Taça de Honra (3)[7]
- European Cup: Runner-up 1967–68
International[edit]
- Portugal
- FIFA World Cup: Third-place 1966
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