José Carlos (footballer, born 1941)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is da Silva and the second or paternal family name is José.

José Carlos da Silva José (22 September 1941 – 26 April 2025), known as José Carlos, was a Portuguese footballer who played mostly as a central defender.

José Carlos

Personal information
Full name	José Carlos da Silva José
Date of birth	(1941-09-22)22 September 1941
Place of birth	Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal
Date of death	26 April 2025(2025-04-26) (aged 83)
Place of death	Torres Vedras, Portugal
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
	CUF
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1960–1962	CUF	51	(1)
1962–1974	Sporting CP	248	(3)
1974–1975	Braga
Total		299	(4)
International career
1961–1971	Portugal	36	(0)
Managerial career
1975	Oriental
1975–1976	Braga
1978	Boavista
1980–1981	Varzim
1981–1982	Chaves
1982–1984	Águeda
1984–1985	Gil Vicente
1985–1986	União Santarém
1986–1988	Gil Vicente
1988–1989	Paredes
1989–1990	Fafe
1990–1992	Valpaços
1993–1994	Lanheses
1995	Penafiel
1996–2001	Dragões Sandinenses
2004–2005	Lourinhanense
Medal record Men's football Representing  Portugal FIFA World Cup 1966 England
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon District, José Carlos joined Sporting CP in 1962 from G.D. Fabril in Barreiro. Over 12 seasons, all spent in the Primeira Liga (14 counting those with his previous team), he appeared in 348 official matches and also acted as captain, winning three leagues and four Taça de Portugal and adding the 1964 edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.^[1][2]

José Carlos retired in 1975 at the age of 34, following a brief spell in the Segunda Liga with S.C. Braga where he achieved promotion.^[2] Shortly after the 1966 FIFA World Cup, Sporting rejected an offer from La Liga club FC Barcelona to acquire his services.^[3]

International career

José Carlos played 36 times for Portugal, three as a CUF player and 33 whilst at the service of Sporting.^[4] His debut came on 19 March 1961 against Luxembourg in the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualifiers (6–0 home win), and his last appearance came nearly ten years later, against Denmark in the UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying stages (5–0 victory).^[5]

José Carlos represented the country at the 1966 World Cup in England. He appeared twice in the tournament, against England in the semi-finals and the Soviet Union in the third-place match, the latter ending in a 2–1 triumph.^[6]

Death

José Carlos died on 26 April 2025, at the age of 83.^[7]

Honours

Sporting CP

• Primeira Liga: 1965–66, 1969–70, 1973–74^[7]
• Taça de Portugal: 1962–63, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74^[7]
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1963–64^[1]

Portugal

• FIFA World Cup third place: 1966^[6]