# Pedro DeBrito

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American soccer player (1959–2014)

Pedro DeBrito DeBrito with Wichita Wings in c. 1988 Personal information Full name Pedro Guilherme DeBrito[1] Birth name Pedro Guilherme Gomes de Brito[a] Date of birth (1959-05-25)May 25, 1959 Place of birth Ribeira Brava, Portuguese Cape Verde[2] Date of death July 5, 2014(2014-07-05) (aged 55) Place of death Miami, Florida, U.S. Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Positions Forward midfielder defender College career Years Team Apps (Gls) 1978–1981 Connecticut Huskies 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) International career 1983 United States 1 (0) * Club domestic league appearances and goals

**Pedro Guilherme DeBrito** (May 25, 1959 – July 5, 2014) was a [soccer player](/source/Soccer_player) who played as a [midfielder](/source/Midfielder). His career took him through multiple U.S. leagues including the [North American Soccer League](/source/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%9384)), [Major Indoor Soccer League](/source/Major_Soccer_League), [American Soccer League](/source/American_Soccer_League_(1988%E2%80%9389)) and the [National Professional Soccer League](/source/National_Professional_Soccer_League_II). Born in [Portuguese Cape Verde](/source/Portuguese_Cape_Verde), he earned one [cap](/source/Cap_(sports)) with the [United States national team](/source/United_States_men's_national_soccer_team) in 1983.

## College

DeBrito, a native of [Cape Verde](/source/Cape_Verde), moved with his family to [Portugal](/source/Portugal) when he was nine.[3] His family then moved to the U.S. when he was fifteen. After high school, he attended the [University of Connecticut](/source/University_of_Connecticut). He played as a [forward](/source/Striker_(association_football)) 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 July 2014[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pedro_DeBrito&action=edit), is fifth on the career goals list.[4] In 1981, UConn defeated [Alabama A&M](/source/Alabama_A%26M) 2–1 to win the [NCAA Men's Soccer Championship](/source/NCAA_Division_I_men's_soccer_tournament).[5] He was a 1980 Honorable Mention and 1981 [First Team All American](/source/Division_I_First-Team_All-American_(soccer)) honors.[4][6] The University of Connecticut inducted DeBrito into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.[7] He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in the Class of 2000.[3][8]

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.[9]

## Professional

The [Tampa Bay Rowdies](/source/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies_(1975%E2%80%9393)) of the [North American Soccer League](/source/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%9384)) drafted DeBrito with the first pick in the 1982 NASL College Draft.[10] That year he was the NASL Rookie of the Year as a forward.[4][11] In 1983, the [U.S. Soccer Federation](/source/U.S._Soccer_Federation), in coordination with the NASL, entered the [U.S. national team](/source/United_States_men's_national_soccer_team), known as [Team America](/source/Team_America_(NASL)), into the NASL as a league franchise.[5] The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL, [Major Indoor Soccer League](/source/Major_Soccer_League) (MISL) and dies and signed with Team America.[12] 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](/source/New_York_Cosmos_(1970%E2%80%9385)) on April 26, 1984, for [Refik Kozić](/source/Refik_Kozi%C4%87) and cash.[13] 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](/source/Dallas_Sidekicks_(1984%E2%80%932004)) (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](/source/Tacoma_Stars_(1983%E2%80%9392)) for [Godfrey Ingram](/source/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](/source/Wichita_Wings) as a free agent. Later that season, he broke his right leg. In 1989, DeBrito played for the [Albany Capitals](/source/Albany_Capitals) of the outdoor [American Soccer League](/source/American_Soccer_League_(1988%E2%80%9389)).[14]

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](/source/Detroit_Rockers) of the [National Professional Soccer League](/source/National_Professional_Soccer_League_II) and played with the team until 1994 when he retired from professional soccer.[15] He later spent time in Portugal before returning to the United States and settling in [Miami](/source/Miami) where he continued to play for local recreational soccer teams.[16][17]

## National team

DeBrito earned his only [cap](/source/Cap_(sports)) in the [U.S. national team](/source/United_States_men's_national_soccer_team)'s only game in 1983, a 2–0 win over [Haiti](/source/Haiti_national_football_team) on April 30, 1983.[18]

## 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](/source/John_DeBrito), was also a professional soccer player in the 1990s and early 2000s.[19] 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](/source/Miami%2C_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.[3][16][20]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** In this [Portuguese name](/source/Portuguese_name), the first or maternal [family name](/source/Surname) is Gomes and the second or paternal family name is de Brito.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Tribute for Joao Joaquim DeBrito Jr"](https://www.stanfillfh.com/tributes/Joao-DeBrito). *Stanfill Funeral Home*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Pedro DeBrito Obituary (1959 - 2014)"](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/pedro-debrito-obituary?id=7135383). *Legacy Remembers*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-harc140707_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-harc140707_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-harc140707_4-2) Conyers, Matthew (July 7, 2014). ["UConn Soccer Great Pedro DeBrito, 55, Dies After Car Crash"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140714192914/http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-pedro-debrito-obit-0708-20140707,0,4010289.story). *[Hartford Courant](/source/Hartford_Courant)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-pedro-debrito-obit-0708-20140707,0,4010289.story) on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-uconn140707_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-uconn140707_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-uconn140707_5-2) ["Pedro DeBrito Passes Away"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140712005130/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/070714aaa.html). [UConn Huskies](/source/UConn_Huskies). July 7, 2014. Archived from [the original](http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/070714aaa.html) on July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-repam140708_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-repam140708_6-1) Palladino, Joe (July 8, 2014). ["Waterbury loses 1 of its greats; Soccer legend Pedro DeBrito dies at age 55"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140723111524/http://rep-am.com/sports/local_sports/815275.txt). *[Republican-American](/source/Republican-American)*. [Waterbury, CT](/source/Waterbury%2C_CT). Archived from [the original](http://www.rep-am.com/sports/local_sports/815275.txt) on July 23, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ncsaa81_7-0)** "All-Time NSCAA All-Americas". [*2013 College Soccer Almanac*](https://web.archive.org/web/20131215052258/https://www.nscaa.com/user_images/2013CollegeAlmanac2.pdf) (PDF). [National Soccer Coaches Association of America](/source/National_Soccer_Coaches_Association_of_America). July 15, 2013. p. 47. Archived from [the original](https://www.nscaa.com/user_images/2013CollegeAlmanac2.pdf) (PDF) on December 15, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** By (July 7, 2014). ["UConn Soccer Great Pedro DeBrito, 55, Dies After Car Crash"](https://www.courant.com/2014/07/07/uconn-soccer-great-pedro-debrito-55-dies-after-car-crash-2/). *Hartford Courant*. Retrieved February 11, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ctshof_9-0)** ["Class of 2000"](http://ctsoccerhalloffame.org/Page.asp?n=63297). Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "Players With 40 Goals and 40 Assists". [*Division I Men's Soccer Records*](http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_soccer_RB/2018/D1.pdf) (PDF) (19th ed.). [Indianapolis](/source/Indianapolis): [NCAA](/source/NCAA). August 10, 2018. pp. 7–8. Retrieved December 28, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nyt811215_11-0)** ["Best Foot Forward"](https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/15/sports/sports-people-best-foot-forward.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. December 15, 1981. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nyt820908_12-0)** ["UConn Soccer Star"](https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/08/sports/sports-people-uconn-soccer-star.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. September 8, 1982. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-miah830610_13-0)** "Team America Boots Rowdies, 1–0". *[Miami Herald](/source/Miami_Herald)*. [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). June 10, 1983. p. 3E.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-eve840326_14-0)** Beard, Randy (March 26, 1984). ["Sting owner livid over Rowdies"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19640326&id=ZJhjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iVkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2621,2999562). *[St. Petersburg Independent](/source/St._Petersburg_Independent)*. p. 3C. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-aleague_15-0)** ["American Soccer League 1989 Season"](http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1989/statsasl89.htm). A-League Archives Home. January 27, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-howe9293_16-0)** [NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS – 1992–1993](http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/soccer/misl/misl93.txt) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231258/http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/soccer/misl/misl93.txt) 2007-09-27 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dmn140706_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dmn140706_17-1) Marshall, Raymond (July 6, 2014). ["Former Sidekick Pedro Debrito Killed in Car Accident"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140714204014/http://soccerblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/former-sidekick-pedro-debrito-killed-in-car-accident.html/). *[The Dallas Morning News](/source/The_Dallas_Morning_News)*. Archived from [the original](http://soccerblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/former-sidekick-pedro-debrito-killed-in-car-accident.html/) on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-miah030210_18-0)** Claps, Arthur V. (February 10, 2003). "Former Cosmos Star DeBrito Helps Soccer Locker's Victory". *[Miami Herald](/source/Miami_Herald)*. p. 9D.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-usaint2_19-0)** ["USA – Details of International Matches 1980–1989"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/usa-intres-det80.html). Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-miah140710_20-0)** Cohen, Howard (July 10, 2014). ["Tampa Bay Rowdies, UConn soccer champ Pedro DeBrito dies after car crash in Miami"](http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/10/4229652_tampa-bay-rowdies-uconn-soccer.html). *[Miami Herald](/source/Miami_Herald)*. Retrieved July 11, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Rowdies aim to boost scoring touch"](https://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/rowdies-aim-to-boost-scoring-touch/2188171/).

## External links

- [UConn Soccer Records](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927042753/http://www3.uconnhuskies.com/sports/MSoccer/2006/Media%20Guide/pp63-82.Records.pdf)

- [Dallas Sidekicks profile](http://www.kicksfan.com/players/debrito/index.htm)

- [NASL/MISL stats](http://nasljerseys.com/Players/D/DeBrito.Pedro.htm)

v t e List of first overall NASL draft picks Brunner Maca Rigby López Quraishi Ralbovsky Myernick Makowski Pesa Ebert Morrone, Jr. DeBrito Thompson Wegerle

v t e NASL (1968–1984) Rookie of the Year 1968: Montaung 1969: Fernández 1970: Leeker 1971: Horton 1972: Winter 1973: Rote 1974: McMillan 1975: Bahr 1976: Pecher 1977: McAlister 1978: Etherington 1979: Hulcer 1980: Durgan 1981: Morrone 1982: DeBrito 1983: Thompson 1984: Wegerle

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pedro DeBrito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_DeBrito) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_DeBrito?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.