Graciano Brito (born June 2, 1985 in São Nicolau) is a Cape Verdean footballer coach and former professional player. Brito is currently the head coach for the men's soccer team at Siena College.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graciano Brito | ||
| Date of birth | June 2, 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Quinnipiac Bobcats | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010 | Operário dos Açores | ||
| 2011 | F.C. New York | 12 | (4) |
| 2012 | Rochester Rhinos | 13 | (2) |
| 2013 | Connecticut FC Azul | 3 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2012–2020 | Quinnipiac Bobcats (assistant) | ||
| 2020– | Siena Saints | ||
| 2020– | Black Watch Premier (technical staff) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 24, 2022 | |||
Career
Youth and college
Brito came from his native Cape Verde to the United States in 2004,[1] settling with relatives in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and played college soccer at Quinnipiac University. As a junior in 2007 he was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-America Second Team, was featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces In The Crowd" section, was selected to the NSCAA/adidas North Atlantic Region First Team, and was named Northeast Conference Player of the Year, the first Quinnipiac men's soccer player to earn the award since 2001. As a senior in 2008 he was named the NEC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, was Quinnipiac’s Male Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row, and was named to the All-NEC First Team, was an NCSAA/adidas All-American for the third consecutive year, and was a College Soccer News All-American. He finished his four-year career with Quinnipiac as the program’s Division I career leader in goals (40) and points (92).
Professional
Brito was an assistant coach at Quinnipiac in 2009,[2] attended the 2009 MLS Combine, and briefly played professionally for Operário dos Açores in the Portuguese Second Division 2010,[3] before becoming the first player to sign with the expansion FC New York of the new USL Professional League when he signed in February 2011.[4] He scored the only goal of FCNY's first ever league victory, 1-0 over the Charleston Battery on May 13.[5]
Brito signed with Rochester Rhinos of USL Pro on February 2, 2012.[6]
Coaching
Brito returned to his alma mater Quinnipiac University in 2012 to take a role as an assistant coach with the men's soccer team. Brito coached with the Bobcats for eight seasons before being appointed head coach at Siena College.[7] Brito also joined the technical staff of Black Watch Premier Academy in 2020.[8]