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Vitória de Setúbal is mourning the loss of a legendary figure in their club's history: José Maria. The former midfielder passed away this Friday morning in the United States, where he had resided for a considerable time, following an illness.
Born in Angola, the ex-footballer joined the Setúbal club in the 1962/63 season and remained there until 1975/76, when he moved to Toronto Metro-Croatia. Over 14 seasons with the "Sadinos," he amassed an impressive 386 appearances and scored 114 goals, sharing the pitch for much of that period with his brother, Conceição.
The former central midfielder also earned four caps for the Portuguese national team.
José Maria holds the record for most appearances for the "Sadinos" in the top tier of national football, with 317, and also for goals, with 93. He was a key part of the club's golden era teams in the 60s and 70s, a period that saw them win two Portuguese Cups, finish as runners-up in 1971/72, and consistently feature in European competitions.
To the bereaved family, A BOLA extends its deepest condolences.
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