João Pedro Morais (6 March 1935 – 27 April 2010) was a Portuguese Association football, footballer. He started playing as a Midfielder#Winger, winger and later became a Defender (association football)#Full-back, full-back.

Club career

Born in Cascais, Morais joined Sporting CP in 1958, arriving from S.C.U. Torreense where he had made his Primeira Liga debut. He spent the following 11 seasons with the Lisbon club, appearing in 256 matches all competitions comprised – including Exhibition game, friendlies – and scoring 68 goals. Morais was essential as Sporting 1963–64 European Cup Winners' Cup, won the 1964 edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: in 1964 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, the final's replay (3–3 in the first match), he scored from a direct corner kick in a 1–0 win against MTK Budapest FC. Morais left the ''Lions'' in June 1969, having won four major titles. He retired at the age of 38, after three years in amateur football with Rio Ave F.C. and F.C. Paços de Ferreira.

International career

Morais earned nine Cap (sport), caps for Portugal national football team, Portugal, over one year. His debut was on 18 June 1966 in a 1–0 friendly victory over Scotland national football team, Scotland, in Glasgow. Morais was selected for the country's 1966 FIFA World Cup squad, appearing in all three group stage games in an eventual third-place finish. In the match against Brazil national football team, Brazil, he committed one of the most infamous FIFA World Cup, World Cup fouls on Brazilian legend Pelé; However, he was allowed to stay on the field by English referee George McCabe without being booked.

Later life and death

Morais settled in Vila do Conde – the city of his penultimate club – after retiring, going on to work as a Seat of local government, city hall employee. He died on 27 April 2010 at 75, after a long battle with illness.

Honours

Club

Sporting *Primeira Liga: 1961–62 Primeira Liga, 1961–62, 1965–66 Primeira Liga, 1965–66 *Taça de Portugal: 1962–63 *UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1963–64 European Cup Winners' Cup, 1963–64

International

Portugal *FIFA World Cup third place: 1966 FIFA World Cup, 1966

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Morais, Joao 1935 births 2010 deaths Sportspeople from Cascais Portuguese footballers Association football defenders Association football wingers Association football utility players Primeira Liga players Caldas S.C. players S.C.U. Torreense players Sporting CP footballers Rio Ave F.C. players F.C. Paços de Ferreira players Portugal international footballers 1966 FIFA World Cup players