{{short description|Portuguese footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Bruno Braga | image = | fullname = Bruno Manuel Araújo Braga<ref name=Profile>{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/jogador/bruno-braga/18281|title=Bruno Braga|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|6|17|df=y}}<ref name=Profile/> | birth_place = Massarelos, Portugal | height = {{Height|m=1.81|precision=0}}<ref name=Profile/> | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 1991–1995 | youthclubs1 = Porto | youthyears2 = 1995–2002 | youthclubs2 = Salgueiros | years1 = 2002–2004 | clubs1 = Salgueiros | caps1 = 27 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2004–2006 | clubs2 = Tirsense | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 2006–2008 | clubs3 = Leça | caps3 = 28 | goals3 = 12 | years4 = 2008–2010 | clubs4 = Leixões | caps4 = 42 | goals4 = 5 | years5 = 2010–2014 | clubs5 = Rio Ave | caps5 = 103 | goals5 = 13 | years6 = 2014 | clubs6 = Benfica Luanda | caps6 = 13 | goals6 = 4 | years7 = 2015 | clubs7 = Penafiel | caps7 = 12 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 2015–2017 | clubs8 = Chaves | caps8 = 74 | goals8 = 14 | years9 = 2017–2019 | clubs9 = Aves | caps9 = 33 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2019–2020 | clubs10 = Leixões| caps10 = 15 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2020–2022 | clubs11 = Salgueiros | caps11 = 40 | goals11 = 3 | totalcaps = 387 | totalgoals = 52 | club-update = }} '''Bruno Manuel Araújo Braga''' (born 17 June 1983) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
==Club career== Born in Massarelos, Porto District, Braga began his career with his hometown club S.C. Salgueiros, being sparingly used over the course of two Segunda Liga seasons. In 2004, as the organisation was in the midst of a severe financial crisis – which eventually led to its liquidation – he left and signed for F.C. Tirsense, going on to spend several years in the lower leagues;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodesantotirso.pt/bruno-braga-e-o-novo-team-manager-do-fc-tirsense/|title=Bruno Braga é o novo ''Team Manager'' do FC Tirsense|trans-title=Bruno Braga is FC Tirsense's new Team Manager|newspaper=Diário de Santo Tirso|language=pt|date=17 July 2024|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> in 2006–07, he helped Leça F.C. promote to the third tier.<ref name=DN>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/arquivo/2008/braga-e-o-golo-que-e-um-grito-dos-jovens-portugueses-esquecidos-1130533.html|title=Braga e o golo que é um grito dos jovens portugueses esquecidos|trans-title=Braga and the goal that is a cry of the forgotten Portuguese youngsters|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|first=António Pedro|last=Pereira|language=pt|date=1 October 2008|access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref>
Braga moved straight into the Primeira Liga in the summer of 2008, joining Leixões SC.<ref name=DN/> He made his debut in the competition on 24 August by playing 20 minutes in a 1–3 home loss against C.D. Nacional,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/desporto/detalhe/nacional-resolve-a-bomba|title=Nacional resolve à bomba|trans-title=Nacional take care of business rocket-style|newspaper=Correio da Manhã|language=pt|date=25 August 2008|access-date=10 October 2018}}</ref> and finished his debut campaign with 27 matches (22 starts) and five goals as the Matosinhos side finished in sixth position, narrowly missing out on qualification for the UEFA Europa League;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/arquivo/diario-de-noticias/um-sexto-lugar-e-a-segunda-melhor-classificacao-de-sempre.html|title=Um sexto lugar e a segunda melhor classificação de sempre|trans-title=Sixth place and second best-ever finish|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|language=pt|date=23 May 2009|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> two of those came at the Estádio do Dragão in a 3–2 win over FC Porto,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsf.pt/desporto/porto/interior/leixoes-vence-fc-porto-e-sobe-a-lideranca-do-campeonato-1034147.html|title=Leixões vence FC Porto e sobe à liderança do campeonato|trans-title=Leixões beat FC Porto and climb to first place in league|publisher=TSF|language=pt|date=25 October 2008|access-date=5 September 2017}}</ref> as he won the SJPF Player of the Month award for October 2008.
Mainly due to injuries, Braga appeared less in 2009–10, and Leixões suffered relegation. He continued in the top flight, however, signing a one-year contract with Rio Ave FC.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/rio-ave/detalhe/braga-assina-por-uma-epoca|title=Braga assina por uma época|trans-title=Braga signs for one season|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=23 June 2010|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> He helped the latter team to reach the Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga finals in 2014, both lost to S.L. Benfica.<ref name=PLC>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/arquivo/diario-de-noticias/benfica-conquista-taca-da-liga-pela-quinta-vez.html|title=Benfica conquista Taça da Liga pela quinta vez|trans-title=Benfica claim League Cup for the fifth time|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|language=pt|date=7 May 2024|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref><ref name=PC>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/desporto/benfica-1-0-rio-ave-final-da-taca-de-portugal_e738424|title=Benfica 1–0 Rio Ave, final da Taça de Portugal|trans-title=Benfica 1–0 Rio Ave, Portuguese Cup final|publisher=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|language=pt|date=18 May 2024|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
==Honours== '''Leça''' *Terceira Divisão: 2006–07
'''Rio Ave''' *Taça de Portugal runner-up: 2013–14<ref name=PC/> *Taça da Liga runner-up: 2013–14<ref name=PLC/>
'''Aves''' *Taça de Portugal: 2017–18<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/taca-portugal/noticias/interior/aves-ganha-a-taca-de-portugal-gracas-a-bis-de-guedes-9360212.html|title=Aves ganha a Taça de Portugal graças a bis de Guedes|trans-title=Aves win Portuguese Cup thanks to Guedes brace|newspaper=O Jogo|language=pt|date=20 May 2018|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref> *Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira runner-up: 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvi.iol.pt/noticias/desportivo-aves/04-08-2018/fc-porto-vence-a-supertaca-pela-21-vez|title=FC Porto vence a Supertaça pela 21.ª vez!|trans-title=FC Porto win the Supercup for the 21st time!|publisher=Televisão Independente|language=pt|date=4 August 2018|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{ForaDeJogo}} *{{Soccerway|new_id=braga-bruno/GCjFljQc}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Braga, Bruno}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Portuguese sportsmen Category:Portuguese men's footballers Category:Footballers from Porto District Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Primeira Liga players Category:Liga Portugal 2 players Category:Segunda Divisão players Category:Campeonato de Portugal (league) players Category:S.C. Salgueiros players Category:F.C. Tirsense players Category:Leça F.C. players Category:Leixões S.C. players Category:Rio Ave F.C. players Category:F.C. Penafiel players Category:G.D. Chaves players Category:C.D. Aves players Category:Girabola players Category:S.L. Benfica (Luanda) players Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Angola Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Angola