Chico Faria

Francisco Delfim Dias Faria (9 October 1949 – 10 June 2004),^[1] commonly known as Chico Faria, was a Portuguese footballer who played as a forward.

Chico Faria

Personal information
Full name	Francisco Delfim Dias Faria
Date of birth	(1949-10-09)9 October 1949
Place of birth	Matosinhos, Portugal
Date of death	10 June 2004(2004-06-10) (aged 54)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Leixões
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1967–1968	Leixões	20	(3)
1968–1976	Sporting CP	168	(43)
1976–1982	Braga	136	(36)
1982–1983	Penafiel
1983–1984	Marítimo
1984–1985	Lourosa
1985–1986	Ponte da Barca
Total		334	(82)
International career
1972–1977	Portugal	4	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

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. His 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.

Chico Faria: International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	10 May 1972	GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus	Cyprus	0–1	0–1	1974 World Cup qualification

Death

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