Abel Braga

Known as Abel during his playing days, he started his career as a player in Fluminense in 1968, being a regular member of the youth sides. After becoming a part of the first team squad in 1971, he was loaned to Figueirense in 1973. Back to Flu in 1974, Abel enjoyed a run as a first-choice, but lost his starting spot under head coaches Carlos Alberto Parreira and Paulo Emilio. Unhappy with his backup status, he saw moves to Flamengo and America-RJ being blocked by Fluminense president Francisco Horta, but was sent to Vasco da Gama along with two teammates in early 1976. Abel then established himself as a regular starter for Vasco, playing 90 matches in his first season. In 1979, he moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing for French club Paris Saint-Germain. Back to Brazil in 1981, Abel returned to his home country to play for Cruzeiro, but a knee injury took him out for two months shortly after arriving, and he lost space after recovering. He then moved to Botafogo in 1982, where he also struggled with injuries, and later represented Goytacaz, retiring with the club at the end of the 1984 season, aged 32.

Abel played for an under-23 side (named Seleção Brasileira de Novos) in the 1971 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, before playing two matches in the 1972 Summer Olympics. He made his full international debut for the Brazil national team on 19 April 1978, in a 1–1 draw against England at the Wembley Stadium. Abel was also included in Cláudio Coutinho's squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, but did not make an appearance in the tournament.

Early career

In 1985, immediately after retiring, Braga began working as a head coach at his last club Goytacaz. He returned to Botafogo shortly after, coaching the club in the 1985 Campeonato Carioca, before moving to Portugal to take over Rio Ave in November 1985. Back to Brazil after the end of the 1985–86 season, Braga was in charge of Vitória for the remainder of the year, and later led Galícia and Santa Cruz (where he won the 1987 Campeonato Pernambucano) before being appointed head coach of Internacional in October 1988, replacing Chiquinho. Braga led Inter to the finals of the 1988 Série A, losing to Bahia, and was knocked out in the semifinals of the 1989 Copa Libertadores to Olimpia on penalties. Sacked in June 1989, he returned to Portugal shortly after, taking over Famalicão. In June 1991, after leading Famalicão to the Primeira Liga, Abel returned to Internacional in the place of Ênio Andrade, but only lasted three months in charge. In November 1993, after nearly two years at Belenenses (where he also achieved promotion to the top tier), he returned to Famalicão. Back to Rio Ave in August 1994, Braga was in charge of the side for six matches before being dismissed. He would also manage Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal before joining another club he represented as a player, Vasco da Gama, in April 1995. Sacked in May 1995, Braga returned to Inter for a third spell in July, and remained in charge until the end of the campaign. On 25 March 1997, after more…

On 29 July 2017, Braga's 18-year-old son, João Pedro, died after falling from the balcony of the family's apartment in the Leblon region of Rio de Janeiro. Braga was informed of his son's death whilst undergoing the final preparations for Fluminense's fixture against Ponte Preta the following day. Ponte Preta agreed to Fluminense's request to postpone the match, which was rescheduled by the CBF.