Adolfo Calisto

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Adolfo Calisto

| image = Adolfo Calisto in Rotterdam.jpg

| caption = Calisto in 1972

| full_name = Adolfo António da Luz Calisto

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1944|01|04}}

| birth_place = Barreiro, Portugal

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2024|08|29|1944|01|04}}

| death_place =

| position = Left-back

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1960–1962

| clubs1 = Barreirense

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1965–1975

| clubs2 = Benfica

| caps2 = 300

| goals2 = 5

| years3 = 1975–1976

| clubs3 = União Montemor

| years4 = 1976–1977

| clubs4 = Portimonense

| nationalyears1 = 1971–1973

| nationalteam1 = Portugal

| nationalcaps1 = 15

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| manageryears1 = 1982–1993

| managerclubs1 = CD Alcains

| manageryears2 =

| managerclubs2 = Benfica de C. Branco

}}

Adolfo António da Luz Calisto (1 January 1944 – 29 August 2024), simply known as Adolfo, was a Portuguese footballer who played left back and was one of the top players for Benfica and the Portugal national team during the 1960s and 1970s.

Career

Born in Barreiro, Portugal, he first attracted attention for his local team of Barreirense, (1960–1962 and 1963–1966), and for Seixal (1962–1963). After that he moved to Benfica, where he played from 1965–66 to 1974–75. He then played for União Montemor (1975–1976) and Portimonense (1976–1977), before ending his career at age 33. He won six championships, and was part of the Benfica squad that reached the 1968 European Cup final. As a Benfica player he achieved the nickname of "Barreiro locomotiv", he was the first wing defender doing the entire corridor.

He had 15 caps for the Portugal national team, scoring 1 goal, and played with the team that reached second place at the Brazil Independence Cup final in 1972, losing only in an epic final with Brazil (1–0), being considered the best wing left defender that year. The Portuguese team, which was largely composed of Benfica players, including veterans Eusébio and Jaime Graça, and youngsters Humberto Coelho and Jordão, lost the final only at the 89th minute, when Jairzinho finally scored.

Death

Adolfo died on 29 August 2024, at the age of 80.{{cite news |title=Morreu Adolfo, ex-jogador do Benfica e da Seleção Nacional |url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/desporto/futebol/detalhe/morreu-adolfo-calisto-ex-jogador-do-benfica-e-da-selecao-nacional |access-date=29 August 2024 |publisher=CM |date=29 August 2024}}

Career statistics

:Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Calisto goal.

{{International goals header|ref=no|above=List of international goals scored by Adolfo Calisto}}

{{Ig match

| n= 1

| d= 29 June 1972

| st=Estádio do Maracanã| ci=Rio de Janeiro| co=Brazil

| o=Argentina

| sc=1–0

| fr=3–1

| comp=Brazilian Independence Cup}}

|}

Honours

Benfica

Primeira Divisão: 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75{{cite magazine|date=April–June 2017|title=Especial 'Tetra'|trans-title='Tetra' special edition|language=Portuguese|magazine=Mística|location=Portugal|publisher=Impresa Publishing|issue=33|page=82|issn=3846-0823}}
Taça de Portugal:{{cite magazine|date=May 2015|title=Bicampeões para a história|trans-title=Back-to-back champions for the ages|language=pt|magazine=Visão|location=Portugal|publisher=Impresa Publishing|page=52|issn=0872-3540}} 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72
European Cup: Runner-up 1967–68