{{short description|American soccer player (1959–2014)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name= Pedro DeBrito | image = Pedro DeBrito.jpg | caption = DeBrito with [[Wichita Wings]] in {{circa|1988}} | fullname = Pedro Guilherme DeBrito<!--American--><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stanfillfh.com/tributes/Joao-DeBrito|title=Tribute for Joao Joaquim DeBrito Jr.|website=Stanfill Funeral Home}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date|1959|5|25}} | birth_place = [[Ribeira Brava, Cape Verde|Ribeira Brava]], [[Portuguese Cape Verde]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/pedro-debrito-obituary?id=7135383|title=Pedro DeBrito Obituary (1959 - 2014)|website=Legacy Remembers}}</ref> | birth_name = Pedro Guilherme Gomes de Brito<!--Portuguese Cape Verdean-->{{efn|In this [[Portuguese name]], the first or maternal [[surname|family name]] is Gomes and the second or paternal family name is de Brito.}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2014|7|5|1959|5|25}} | death_place = [[Miami]], [[Florida]], U.S. | height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}} | position = [[Striker (association football)|Forward]] / [[Midfielder]] / [[defender (football)|Defender]] | collegeyears1 = 1978–1981 | college1 = [[UConn Huskies men's soccer|Connecticut Huskies]] | years1 = 1982 | years2 = 1983 | years3 = 1983–1984 | years4 = 1984 | years5 = 1984–1985 | years6 = 1985–1987 | years7 = 1987–1990 | years8 = 1989 | years9 = 1990–1992 | years10 = 1992–1993 | clubs1 = [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]] | clubs2 = [[Team America (NASL)|Team America]] | clubs3 = [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]] ''(indoor)'' | clubs4 = [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]] | clubs5 = [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]] ''(indoor)'' | clubs6 = [[Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)|Dallas Sidekicks]] (''indoor'') | clubs7 = [[Wichita Wings]] ''(indoor)'' | clubs8 = [[Albany Capitals]] | clubs9 = [[Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)|Dallas Sidekicks]] ''(indoor)'' | clubs10 = [[Detroit Rockers]] ''(indoor)'' | caps1 = 29 | caps2 = 19 | caps3 = 22 | caps4 = 23 | caps5 = 32 | caps6 = 87 | caps7 = 108 | caps8 = | caps9 = 46 | caps10 = 23 | goals1 = 2 | goals2 = 0 | goals3 = 9 | goals4 = 2 | goals5 = 12 | goals6 = 35 | goals7 = 14 | goals8 = | goals9 = 13 | goals10 = 13 | nationalyears1 = 1983 | nationalteam1 = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }} '''Pedro Guilherme DeBrito''' (May 25, 1959 – July 5, 2014) was a [[soccer player]] who played as a [[midfielder]]. His career took him through multiple U.S. leagues including the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]], [[Major Soccer League|Major Indoor Soccer League]], [[American Soccer League (1988–89)|American Soccer League]] and the [[National Professional Soccer League II|National Professional Soccer League]]. Born in [[Portuguese Cape Verde]], he earned one [[cap (sports)|cap]] with the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]] in 1983.
==College== DeBrito, a native of [[Cape Verde]], moved with his family to [[Portugal]] when he was nine.<ref name="harc140707"/> His family then moved to the U.S. when he was fifteen. After high school, he attended the [[University of Connecticut]]. He played as a [[Striker (association football)|forward]] on the men's soccer team and finished his four seasons with 43 goals and 59 assists. He holds the school's career assists record and, {{as of|2014|07|lc=yes}}, is fifth on the career goals list.<ref name="uconn140707"/> In 1981, UConn defeated [[Alabama A&M]] 2–1 to win the [[NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament|NCAA Men's Soccer Championship]].<ref name="repam140708"/> He was a 1980 Honorable Mention and 1981 [[Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)|First Team All American]] honors.<ref name="uconn140707"/><ref name="ncsaa81"/> The University of Connecticut inducted DeBrito into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=2014-07-07 |title=UConn Soccer Great Pedro DeBrito, 55, Dies After Car Crash |url=https://www.courant.com/2014/07/07/uconn-soccer-great-pedro-debrito-55-dies-after-car-crash-2/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Hartford Courant |language=en-US}}</ref> He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in the Class of 2000.<ref name="harc140707"/><ref name="ctshof"/>
DeBrito was one of 22 college players to be part of the 40-40 club, having both 40 goals and 40 assists in their college career.<ref>{{cite book |title=Division I Men's Soccer Records |date=August 10, 2018 |publisher=[[NCAA]] |location=[[Indianapolis]] |pages=7–8 |edition=19th |accessdate=December 28, 2018 |language=English |chapter=Players With 40 Goals and 40 Assists |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_soccer_RB/2018/D1.pdf}}</ref>
==Professional== The [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] drafted DeBrito with the first pick in the 1982 NASL College Draft.<ref name="nyt811215"/> That year he was the NASL Rookie of the Year as a forward.<ref name="uconn140707"/><ref name="nyt820908"/> In 1983, the [[U.S. Soccer Federation]], in coordination with the NASL, entered the [[United States men's national soccer team|U.S. national team]], known as [[Team America (NASL)|Team America]], into the NASL as a league franchise.<ref name="repam140708"/> The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL, [[Major Soccer League|Major Indoor Soccer League]] (MISL) and dies and signed with Team America.<ref name="miah830610"/> When Team America finished the 1983 season with a 10–20 record, the worst in the NASL, USSF withdrew the team from the league and DeBrito returned to the Rowdies. However, he did not play for the Rowdies in 1984 as the team traded him to the [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]] on April 26, 1984, for [[Refik Kozić]] and cash.<ref name="eve840326"/> While DeBrito played as a forward with the Rowdies and as a midfielder with Team America, the Cosmos used him as an outside back. DeBrito remained with the Cosmos through the 1984 NASL outdoor season. The league collapsed at the end of the season and the Cosmos jumped to MISL for the 1984–1985 season. However, the Cosmos did not last the season and DeBrito signed with the [[Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)|Dallas Sidekicks]] (MISL) as a free agent on September 10, 1985. On February 13, 1987, DeBrito injured his right knee putting him out for the remainder of the 1986–1987 season. He began the 1987–1988 season with the Sidekicks but the team attempted to trade DeBrito the [[Tacoma Stars (1983–92)|Tacoma Stars]] for [[Godfrey Ingram]]. When the two teams failed to complete the trade, the Sidekicks released DeBrito due to salary cap considerations nine games into the 1987–1988 season. DeBrito then signed with [[Wichita Wings]] as a free agent. Later that season, he broke his right leg. In 1989, DeBrito played for the [[Albany Capitals]] of the outdoor [[American Soccer League (1988–89)|American Soccer League]].<ref name="aleague"/>
DeBrito returned to the Dallas Sidekicks as a free agent in 1990 and remained with the team through 1991. On December 2, 1992, he signed with the [[Detroit Rockers]] of the [[National Professional Soccer League II|National Professional Soccer League]] and played with the team until 1994 when he retired from professional soccer.<ref name="howe9293"/> He later spent time in Portugal before returning to the United States and settling in [[Miami]] where he continued to play for local recreational soccer teams.<ref name="dmn140706"/><ref name="miah030210"/>
==National team== DeBrito earned his only [[cap (sports)|cap]] in the [[United States men's national soccer team|U.S. national team]]'s only game in 1983, a 2–0 win over [[Haiti national football team|Haiti]] on April 30, 1983.<ref name="usaint2"/>
==Personal life== DeBrito's parents were John and Angelina DeBrito. He had five sisters: Vera, Fernanda, Valeriana, Angela, and Maria. His younger brother, [[John DeBrito]], was also a professional soccer player in the 1990s and early 2000s.<ref name="miah140710"/> Pedro was the Boys Varsity Soccer Coach for the Oliver-Wolcott Technical High School in Torrington, CT in 1999.
DeBrito was critically injured in an automobile accident in [[Miami, Florida]], on July 3, 2014, and died as a result of those injuries on July 5, 2014. He was on his way to work as a manager of the Drew Estate Cigar Company when the car he was driving hit a tree in the median.<ref name="harc140707"/><ref name="dmn140706"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/rowdies-aim-to-boost-scoring-touch/2188171/|title = Rowdies aim to boost scoring touch}}</ref>
==References== {{notelist}} {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="ncsaa81">{{cite book |publisher=[[National Soccer Coaches Association of America]] |title=2013 College Soccer Almanac |chapter=All-Time NSCAA All-Americas |page=47 |url=https://www.nscaa.com/user_images/2013CollegeAlmanac2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215052258/https://www.nscaa.com/user_images/2013CollegeAlmanac2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 15, 2013 |date=July 15, 2013 |accessdate=July 6, 2014 }}</ref> <ref name="ctshof">{{cite web |publisher=Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame |title=Class of 2000 |url=http://ctsoccerhalloffame.org/Page.asp?n=63297 |accessdate=July 6, 2014}}</ref> <ref name="nyt811215">{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=Best Foot Forward |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/15/sports/sports-people-best-foot-forward.html |date=December 15, 1981 |accessdate=July 6, 2014}}</ref> <ref name="nyt820908">{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=UConn Soccer Star |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/08/sports/sports-people-uconn-soccer-star.html |date=September 8, 1982 |accessdate=July 6, 2014}}</ref> <ref name="miah830610">{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[Miami Herald]] |title=Team America Boots Rowdies, 1–0 |page=3E |date=June 10, 1983}}</ref> <ref name="eve840326">{{cite news |first=Randy |last=Beard |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Independent]] |title=Sting owner livid over Rowdies |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19640326&id=ZJhjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iVkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2621,2999562 |date=March 26, 1984 |accessdate=July 6, 2014 |page=3C}}</ref> <ref name="aleague">{{cite web |publisher=A-League Archives Home |title=American Soccer League 1989 Season |url=http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1989/statsasl89.htm |date=January 27, 2007 |accessdate=July 6, 2014}}</ref> <ref name="howe9293">[http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/soccer/misl/misl93.txt NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS – 1992–1993] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231258/http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/soccer/misl/misl93.txt |date=2007-09-27 }}</ref> <ref name="usaint2">{{cite web |publisher=Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation |title=USA – Details of International Matches 1980–1989 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/usa-intres-det80.html |date= |accessdate=July 6, 2014}}</ref> <ref name="miah030210">{{cite news |first=Arthur V. |last=Claps |newspaper=[[Miami Herald]] |title=Former Cosmos Star DeBrito Helps Soccer Locker's Victory |page=9D |date=February 10, 2003}}</ref>
<ref name="dmn140706">{{cite news |first=Raymond |last=Marshall |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |title=Former Sidekick Pedro Debrito Killed in Car Accident |url=http://soccerblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/former-sidekick-pedro-debrito-killed-in-car-accident.html/ |date=July 6, 2014 |accessdate=July 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714204014/http://soccerblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/former-sidekick-pedro-debrito-killed-in-car-accident.html/ |archivedate=July 14, 2014 }}</ref> <ref name="uconn140707">{{cite news |publisher=[[UConn Huskies]] |title=Pedro DeBrito Passes Away |url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/070714aaa.html |date=July 7, 2014 |accessdate=July 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712005130/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/070714aaa.html |archive-date=July 12, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="harc140707">{{cite news |first=Matthew |last=Conyers |newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]] |title=UConn Soccer Great Pedro DeBrito, 55, Dies After Car Crash |url=http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-pedro-debrito-obit-0708-20140707,0,4010289.story |date=July 7, 2014 |accessdate=July 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714192914/http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-pedro-debrito-obit-0708-20140707,0,4010289.story |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="repam140708">{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Palladino |newspaper=[[Republican-American]] |location=[[Waterbury, CT]] |title=Waterbury loses 1 of its greats; Soccer legend Pedro DeBrito dies at age 55 |url=http://www.rep-am.com/sports/local_sports/815275.txt |date=July 8, 2014 |accessdate=July 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723111524/http://rep-am.com/sports/local_sports/815275.txt |archivedate=July 23, 2014 }}</ref> <ref name="miah140710">{{cite news |first=Howard |last=Cohen |newspaper=[[Miami Herald]] |title=Tampa Bay Rowdies, UConn soccer champ Pedro DeBrito dies after car crash in Miami |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/10/4229652_tampa-bay-rowdies-uconn-soccer.html |date=July 10, 2014 |accessdate=July 11, 2014}}</ref> }}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927042753/http://www3.uconnhuskies.com/sports/MSoccer/2006/Media%20Guide/pp63-82.Records.pdf UConn Soccer Records] * [http://www.kicksfan.com/players/debrito/index.htm Dallas Sidekicks profile] * [http://nasljerseys.com/Players/D/DeBrito.Pedro.htm NASL/MISL stats]
{{NASL Draft Number One Picks}} {{North American Soccer League (1968–1984) Rookie of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Debrito, Pedro}} [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:2014 deaths]] [[Category:African-American soccer players]] [[Category:All-American college men's soccer players]] [[Category:Albany Capitals players]] [[Category:American people of Cape Verdean descent]] [[Category:American Soccer League (1988–89) players]] [[Category:American men's soccer players]] [[Category:UConn Huskies men's soccer players]] [[Category:Dallas Sidekicks (original MISL) players]] [[Category:Detroit Rockers players]] [[Category:Men's association football defenders]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:Men's association football forwards]] [[Category:Men's association football utility players]] [[Category:Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) players]] [[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor players]] [[Category:National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) players]] [[Category:New York Cosmos (1970–1985) players]] [[Category:New York Cosmos (MISL) players]] [[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]] [[Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies draft picks]] [[Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993) players]] [[Category:Team America (NASL) players]] [[Category:United States men's international soccer players]] [[Category:Wichita Wings (MISL) players]] [[Category:Road incident deaths in Florida]] [[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]] [[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]] [[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]] [[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]] [[Category:People from São Nicolau, Cape Verde]] [[Category:Portuguese emigrants to the United States]] [[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]