Eurico Caires

Eurico
Personal information
Full name Eurico Mendonça de Caires
Date of birth (1952-08-05)5 August 1952
Place of birth Funchal, Portugal
Date of death 13 November 1989(1989-11-13) (aged 37)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1969–1971 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1972 Benfica 1 (0)
1972–1973 Beira-Mar 26 (2)
1973–1974 Montijo 25 (4)
1974–1976 Estoril 28 (1)
1976 Toronto Metros-Croatia 1 (0)
1976 Rochester Lancers 4 (0)
1976–1977 Estoril 28 (5)
1977–1982 Belenenses 63 (4)
1982–1983 Almada
1983–1984 União Madeira
1984–1985 Estrela Amadora
Total 176 (16)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Eurico Mendonça de Caires (5 August 1952 – 13 November 1989), known simply as Eurico, was a Portuguese footballer who played as a midfielder.

He represented clubs in Portugal, Canada and the United States.

Club career

Born in Funchal, Madeira, Eurico played youth football with S.L. Benfica, being promoted to the first team for the 1971–72 season and making one Primeira Liga appearance, as a substitute. He went on to represent, always in the top flight, S.C. Beira-Mar, C.D. Montijo and G.D. Estoril Praia.

At the end of the 1975–76 campaign, Eurico moved abroad to play in the North American Soccer League, having brief spells with Toronto Metros-Croatia and the Rochester Lancers before returning to Portugal with Estoril and C.F. Os Belenenses.

Eurico retired in June 1985 at nearly 33 after three years in the lower leagues, amassing Portuguese top division totals of 171 games and 16 goals. He died seven years later.

Personal life

Caires' son, Bruno Caires, is also a former footballer.