Place of birth Olhao, Portugal Place of death Lisbon, Portugal | Playing position Name Luciano Fernandes | |
Full name Luciano Jorge Fernandes Date of birth (1940-08-06) 6 August 1940 (age 75) Date of death December 5, 1966(1966-12-05) (aged 26) | ||
Luciano Fernandes | Só Canções
Luciano Jorge Fernandes (6 August 1940 – 5 December 1966) was a Portuguese footballer who played as a central defender.
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Club career
Born in Olhão, Algarve, Luciano started out at local club S.C. Olhanense at age 19. His composed defending and assuredness in possession earned the nickname of Germano II, in honour of S.L. Benfica player Germano. He moved to the latter in 1963, and coach Lajos Czeizler displayed him in the right-back position until he injured his knee, needing an operation; after he returned he got injured again, now in the ankle, only returning to full fitness in the 1966–67 season.
On 5 December 1966, Benfica's new hydro massage bath short-circuited with seven players inside, Luciano being the only one immersed. Eusébio, Jaime Graça and Santana escaped with burns, whilst José Carmo Pais, Domiciano Cavém and Amândio Malta da Silva were knocked unconscious until Graça managed to climb out the pool and cut off the power supply; Luciano died immediately at the age of 26, and the team played the rest of the campaign in black, winning the league.