Chico Faria

Francisco Delfim Dias Faria (9 October 1949 – 10 June 2004), commonly known as Chico Faria, was a Portuguese footballer who played as a forward.

Club career Born in Matosinhos, Faria spent his first 15 seasons as a professional in the Primeira Liga, making his debut in the competition with hometown club Leixões S.C. at only 17. In the 1968 summer, he signed for Sporting Clube de Portugal, where he went on to win two national championships and three Taça de Portugal trophies.

Faria subsequently represented S.C. Braga, equalling a career-best ten goals in the 1979–80 campaign to help his team to the ninth position. From 1982 to 1985, he competed in the Segunda Liga, retiring the following year after a spell in amateur football.

International career Faria gained four caps for Portugal in five years. He first arrived on 10 May 1972 in a 1–0 away win against Cyprus for the 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and he scored the only goal in the match played in Nicosia.

Death Faria died on 10 June 2004 at the age of 54, a victim of prolonged pulmonary disease.