Pedro DeBrito facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pedro Gomes DeBrito | ||
| Date of birth | May 25, 1959 | ||
| Place of birth | Sao Nicolau, Cape Verde | ||
| Date of death | July 5, 2014 (aged 55) | ||
| Place of death | Miami, Florida, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward / Midfielder / Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1982 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 29 | (2) |
| 1983 | Team America | 19 | (0) |
| 1983–1984 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor) | 22 | (9) |
| 1984 | New York Cosmos | 23 | (2) |
| 1984–1985 | New York Cosmos (indoor) | 32 | (12) |
| 1985–1987 | Dallas Sidekicks (indoor) | 87 | (35) |
| 1987–1990 | Wichita Wings (indoor) | 108 | (14) |
| 1989 | Albany Capitals | ||
| 1990–1992 | Dallas Sidekicks (indoor) | 46 | (13) |
| 1992–1993 | Detroit Rockers (indoor) | 23 | (13) |
| National team | |||
| 1983 | United States | 1 | (0) |
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Pedro Gomes DeBrito (born May 25, 1959 – died July 5, 2014) was a talented soccer player from both the U.S. and Cape Verde. He played as a midfielder, a player who helps both attack and defend.
Pedro played for many different soccer leagues in the United States. These included the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He also played for the American Soccer League and the National Professional Soccer League. In 1983, he played one game for the U.S. national team.
Contents
College Soccer Career
Pedro DeBrito was born in Cape Verde. When he was nine, his family moved to Portugal. Then, at age fifteen, they moved to the United States. After finishing high school, Pedro went to the University of Connecticut.
He played as a forward for the university's men's soccer team. During his four years, he scored 43 goals and made 59 assists. An assist is when a player helps set up a goal for a teammate. He still holds the school record for career assists. In 2014, he was fifth on the list for career goals.
In 1981, Pedro helped his team win the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. They beat Alabama A&M 2–1 in the final game. Because of his great play, he was honored as an "Honorable Mention All-American" in 1980. In 1981, he was named a "First Team All-American." This means he was one of the best college players in the country.
The University of Connecticut recognized Pedro's achievements by putting him in their Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also added to the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000. Pedro was one of only 22 college players to achieve the "40-40 club." This means he had at least 40 goals and 40 assists during his college career.
Professional Soccer Journey
Starting in the NASL
In 1982, the Tampa Bay Rowdies picked Pedro DeBrito as the very first player in the NASL College Draft. This was a big deal! He was named the NASL Rookie of the Year in his first season. He played as a forward for the Rowdies.
In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation created a special team called Team America. This team was made up of U.S. players from different leagues. They joined the NASL as a regular team. Pedro left the Rowdies to play for Team America. However, Team America had a tough season and finished with a poor record. After that, the team was removed from the league.
Pedro then returned to the Rowdies. But in 1984, he was traded to the New York Cosmos. With the Cosmos, he played as an outside back, which is a defensive position. The NASL league stopped playing outdoor games at the end of 1984.
Indoor Soccer and Later Years
After the NASL outdoor league ended, the Cosmos team moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). Pedro joined them for the 1984–1985 indoor season. When the Cosmos team stopped playing, Pedro signed with the Dallas Sidekicks in 1985.
During his time with the Sidekicks, Pedro faced some injuries. In 1987, he hurt his right knee, which kept him from playing for the rest of the season. He started the next season with the Sidekicks but later moved to the Wichita Wings. While playing for the Wings, he broke his right leg.
In 1989, Pedro played outdoor soccer again for the Albany Capitals in the American Soccer League. He then returned to the Dallas Sidekicks in 1990 and played there until 1991.
His last professional team was the Detroit Rockers in the National Professional Soccer League. He played with them from 1992 until 1994, when he decided to retire from professional soccer. After retiring, Pedro spent some time in Portugal. He later returned to the United States and lived in Miami. He continued to play soccer for fun on local teams.
Playing for the U.S. National Team
Pedro DeBrito played one game for the U.S. national team. This happened on April 30, 1983. The U.S. team won that game 2–0 against Haiti. This was the only game the U.S. national team played that year.
Personal Life
Pedro DeBrito's parents were John and Angelina DeBrito. He had five sisters: Vera, Fernanda, Valeriana, Angela, and Maria. His younger brother, John DeBrito, also became a professional soccer player. In 1999, Pedro worked as the Boys Varsity Soccer Coach at Oliver-Wolcott Technical High School in Torrington, Connecticut.
Sadly, Pedro was in a serious car accident in Miami, Florida, on July 3, 2014. He passed away from his injuries two days later, on July 5, 2014. He was on his way to work as a manager for a cigar company when his car hit a tree.
See also
In Spanish: Pedro DeBrito para niños
