Wikipedia

Vitória S.C.

Not to be confused with Vitória F.C., from Setúbal, and Vitória Futebol Clube (ES), from Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Vitória Sport Clube, popularly known as Vitória de Guimarães, is a Portuguese professional football club based in Guimarães that competes in the Primeira Liga, the top-flight of football in Portugal.

Vitória de Guimarães
Full nameVitória Sport Clube
Nickname(s)Os Conquistadores (The Conquerors)[1]

Os Vimaranenses (The ones from Guimarães)

Os Branquinhos (The little whites)
Founded22 September 1922; 102 years ago (22 September 1922)
GroundEstádio D. Afonso Henriques
Capacity30,029[2]
OwnerVitória Sport Clube (majority)
V Sports (Nassef Sawiris & Wes Edens)
ChairmanAntónio Miguel Cardoso
ManagerRui Borges
LeaguePrimeira Liga
2023–24Primeira Liga, 5th of 18
Websitewww.vitoriasc.pt
Current season

Vitória de Guimarães have finished third in the Primeira Liga on four occasions, most recently in 2007/08. They have won one Taça de Portugal (2012/13) and one Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (1988), while also being runners-up of the former on six occasions.

The club have competed regularly in European competitions, where their best finish was the quarter-finals of the 1986/87 UEFA Cup.

History

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Evolution of Vitória Sport Clube's league performances since 1938

Vitória was formed in 1922. Its name seems to be a tribute to Vitória de Setúbal, which at the time was a top contender for the Campeonato de Portugal, though these days Guimarães supporters downplay the connection. After seasons of hard work, which culminated in winning several titles in Braga's AF league, the Conquistadores were promoted to the Primeira Liga in 1941, and two seasons later battled the Sadinos from Setúbal for the first time in the League. Against all odds, reached their first Taça de Portugal final in their debut season, but lost to Belenenses 2–0.[3]

Vitória's furthest progress in a European tournament was in the 1986–87 UEFA Cup, in which they were defeated 5–2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals by West German club Borussia Mönchengladbach.[4]

In the early 2000s, Vitória struggled in some years to retain its status in the top Portuguese division, then named the Superliga. Those years were marked by the decline of the leadership of Pimenta Machado, former club president, who was accused on charges of embezzlement. In February 2008 he was sentenced to four years and three months of prison on a suspended sentence,[5] though a year later he was cleared of this charge and instead ordered to pay a €4,000 fine for falsifying a document.[6]

Despite this, in 2004–05, the club secured a fifth-place finish in the league and qualified for European competition via the UEFA Cup. The next season (2005–06), however, they were relegated to the Segunda Liga (where they last played in 1958) after finishing 17th in the Superliga,[7] despite reaching the Taça de Portugal semi-final, having beaten Benfica in the quarter-finals. The club also failed to progress from their UEFA Cup group, as eventual winners Sevilla, Premier League outfit Bolton Wanderers and Russian team Zenit Saint Petersburg progressed.

Vitória bounced back immediately to the top-flight as runners-up to Leixões S.C. under the management of Manuel Cajuda.[8] A joint-best third-place finish in 2007–08, guaranteeing them a place in the third qualifying round of the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League, their first such campaign. There they fell to Swiss side FC Basel 2–1 on aggregate, with a potential away goal winner by Roberto Calmon Félix being ruled out late on for offside, despite being a bad call from the referee.[9] Vitória dropped into the 2008–09 UEFA Cup first round as a result of their elimination, and lost 4–2 on aggregate after extra time to England's Portsmouth.[10]

Led by Rui Vitória in 2012–13, Vitória found themselves in financial problems, which caused them to lose many experienced players and bet on young players. However, they would go on to win their first Taça de Portugal title after previously losing five finals. Vitória beat rivals Braga en route to the final, where they recovered from 1–0 down against Benfica to win 2–1.[11]

In 2017, Vitória made the cup final again, losing 2–1 to double winners S.L. Benfica.[12] That September, the team left their mark in UEFA competitions, being the first team to start a game without a European player on the field.[13] In 2020–21, the club went through four managers – Tiago, João Henriques, Bino and Moreno – before finishing seventh, missing Europe by one place.[14]

In February 2023, Vitória announced an agreement to sell 46% of the club's shares in a deal worth €5m to football club holding company V Sports, led by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens: owners of Premier League club Aston Villa. V Sports would additionally offer a credit line of up to €20m, and invest an additional €2m into sporting infrastructure.[15] The agreement was approved at a vote of Vitória's members on 4 March 2023: approximately 88% voted in favour of the deal.[16] However, due to UEFA rules, VSports participation had to be reduced to 29%. [1]

Sports venues

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D. Afonso Henriques Stadium

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They play in the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, which has a capacity of just over 30,029.[2] After Os Três Grandes, Vitória is the club which attracts most supporters to the stadium,[17] with average attendances of 20,000 per game. Vitória usually has a higher average than all the other clubs, even when the club played in the Second Division/League.

Other Infrastructures

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Vitória SC Sports Complex

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It was opened in 1997 under the name "Complexo Desportivo Dr. Alberto Pimenta Machado", when the club had Dr. Alberto Pimenta Machado himself as president. The idea came up when, at the time, the president visited Milanello, AC Milan's sports complex.

The Sports Complex hosts the club's administrative services, the training of the senior football team and the training and games of the club's youth teams. It includes 3 natural grass fields, 3 synthetic fields (one of them for Football 7), a gym, two dozen changing rooms, a mini stadium and a sports hall, where the club's teams train and play.[18]

Vitória SC Mini Stadium

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Occupying Field 5 of the Victorian Academy and with capacity for 2,500 spectators, the home of the B team and the under-19s will appear. It will also have a presidential tribune, three bars, six changing rooms and a technical support area.

Vimaranense Unit Sports Pavilion

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Inserted in the Sports Complex, the Pavilion, opened in 1997 with capacity for 2,500 spectators, is the home of Vitória SC sports, where it hosts around 600 athletes weekly between training and competitions. From the 2022/23 season to 2023/24, there was a 40 per cent increase in the average number of spectators per game. This infrastructure was therefore remodelled in the summer of 2024 in order to provide even better working and entertainment conditions for all members.[19]

Guimarães Sports City

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The Sports City is made up of a set of equipment existing in the municipality of Guimarães intended for sports and allows the reception of major events of national and international dimensions. These facilities, such as the swimming pool complex and the athletics track, are frequently used by athletes and teams from Vitória SC's training and modalities.

Honours

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National Competitions
Competition Titles Seasons Runners-up
  Taça de Portugal 1 2012/13 1941/42, 1962/63, 1975/76,

1987/88, 2010/11, 2016/17

  Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira 1 1988 2011, 2013, 2017
  Total Trophies 2 2 Nationals 9 Runner-up

League and Cup history

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Updated: November 2023.[20] The club's 79 seasons (as in 2023) in the top level of Portuguese football make them the club with the joint-fourth longest time there, after Benfica, Porto, and Sporting CP (all with 90).[21]

European matches

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Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup First round   Baník Ostrava 1–0 1–1 2–1
Second round   Southampton 3–3 1–5 4–8
1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup First round   Angoulême 3–0 1–3 4–3
Second round   Hibernian 2–1 0–2 2–3
1973–74 Intertoto Cup Group 2   Djurgården 5–0 1–3 2nd place
  Neuchâtel Xamax 5–2 1–0
  Hamburger SV 3–1 0–2
1975–76 Intertoto Cup Group 7   Oostende 4–1 0–2 2nd place
  Holbæk B&I 4–0 2–1
  Inter Bratislava 1–0 0–4
1983–84 UEFA Cup First round   Aston Villa 1–0 0–5 1–5
1986–87 UEFA Cup First round   Sparta Prague 2–1 1–1 3–2
Second round   Atlético Madrid 2–0 0–1 2–1
Third round   Groningen 3–0 0–1 3–1
Quarter-finals   Borussia Mönchengladbach 2–2 0–3 2–5
1987–88 UEFA Cup First round   Tatabánya 1–0 1–1 2–1
Second round   Beveren 1–0 0–1 (a.e.t.) 1–1 (5–4 p)
Third round   TJ Vitkovice 2–0 0–2 (a.e.t.) 2–2 (4–5 p)
1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cup First round   Roda 1–0 0–2 1–2
1990–91 UEFA Cup First round   Fenerbahçe 2–3 0–3 2–6
1992–93 UEFA Cup First round   Real Sociedad 3–0 0–2 3–2
Second round   Ajax 0–3 1–2 1–5
1995–96 UEFA Cup First round   Standard Liège 3–1 0–0 3–1
Second round   Barcelona 0–4 0–3 0–7
1996–97 UEFA Cup First round   Parma 2–0 1–2 3–2
Second round   Anderlecht 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
1997–98 UEFA Cup First round   Lazio 0–4 1–2 1–6
1998–99 UEFA Cup First round   Celtic 1–2 1–2 2–4
2005–06 UEFA Cup First round   Wisła Kraków 3–0 1–0 4–0
Group H   Zenit Saint Petersburg — 1–2 5th place
  Bolton Wanderers 1–1 —
  Sevilla — 1–3
  Beşiktaş 1–3 —
2008–09 UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round   Basel 0–0 1–2 1–2
2008–09 UEFA Cup First round   Portsmouth 2–2 0–2 2–4
2011–12 UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round   Midtjylland 2–1 0–0 2–1
Play-off round   Atlético Madrid 0–4 0–2 0–6
2013–14 UEFA Europa League Group I   Lyon 1–2 1–1 3rd place
  Real Betis 0–1 0–1
  Rijeka 4–0 0–0
2015–16 UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round   Altach 1–4 1–2 2–6
2017–18 UEFA Europa League Group I   RB Salzburg 1–1 0–3 4th place
  Marseille 1–0 1–2
  Konyaspor 1–1 1–2
2019–20 UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round   Jeunesse Esch 4–0 1–0 5–0
Third qualifying round   FK Ventspils 6–0 3–0 9–0
Play-off round   FCSB 1–0 0–0 1–0
Group F   Arsenal 1–1 2–3 4th place
  Eintracht Frankfurt 0–1 3–2
  Standard Liège 1–1 0–2
2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League Second qualifying round   Puskás Akadémia 3–0 0–0 3–0
Third qualifying round   Hajduk Split 1–0 1–3 2–3
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League Second qualifying round   Celje 0–1 (a.e.t.) 4–3 4–4 (2–4 p)
2024–25 UEFA Conference League Second qualifying round   Floriana 1–0 4–0 5–0
Third qualifying round   Zürich 2–0 3–0 5–0
Play-off round   Zrinjski Mostar 3–0 4–0 7–0
League Phase   Fiorentina —
  Djurgårdens IF — 2–1
  Astana —
  Mladá Boleslav 2–1 —
  St. Gallen —
  Celje 3–1 —

Players

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Current squad

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As of 6 September, 2024[22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF   POR Miguel Maga
3 DF   VEN Mikel Villanueva
4 DF   POR Tomás Ribeiro
5 MF   POR Marco Cruz
6 MF   POR Manu Silva
7 FW   POR Nélson Oliveira
8 MF   POR Tomás Händel
9 FW   VEN Jesús Ramírez
10 MF   POR Tiago Silva
11 FW   BRA Kaio César (on loan from Coritiba)
13 DF   POR João Mendes
14 GK   CPV Bruno Varela (Captain)
15 DF   ESP Óscar Rivas
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF   POR João Mendes
18 FW   CPV Telmo Arcanjo
20 MF   POR Samu
22 DF   POR Alberto Costa
24 DF   CRO Toni Borevković
27 GK   BRA Charles
28 MF   POR Zé Carlos
44 DF   POR Jorge Fernandes
47 GK   POR João Oliveira
71 FW   BRA Gustavo Silva
76 DF   ANG Bruno Gaspar
77 MF   POR Nuno Santos
79 FW   POR José Bica

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
54 DF   POR Gabriel Rodrigues (at Académica until 30 June 2025)
— MF   POR Gonçalo Nogueira (at Paços Ferreira until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW   ANG Nelson da Luz (at Qingdao West Coast until 31 December 2024)
— FW   ESP Adrián Butzke (at Nacional until 30 June 2025)

Club staff

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Position Staff
President   António Miguel Cardoso
Technical Director   Carlos Campos
Sporting Director   Rogério Matias
Director of Football   Flávio Meireles
Manager   Rui Borges
Assistant Manager TBA
First-Team Coach TBA
Goalkeeper Coach   Douglas Jesus
Head of Scouting TBA
Physiotherapist   Pedro Figueiredo
  Frederico Neto
Team Manager   Rui Carvalho

Modalities

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Vitória SC Sports Activities
Active Departments
  Football   Team B   Women's Football   Volleyball   Basketball
  Water Polo   Handball   Swimming   Athletics   Triathlon
  Adapted Sports   Gymnastics   Boxing   Kickboxing   Muay Thai
  Table Tennis   Chess   Judo   Taekwondo   Jiu-jitsu
  Motorsport   Karting   Mountain Biking   Cycling   eSports
Non Active Departments
  Roller Hockey   Futsal   Beach Football   Rugby   Karate
  Sport Fishing   Golf   Beach Volleyball


Handball

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Main article: Vitória S.C. (handball)

Vitória Sport Clube has a handball team that plays in the first division Andebol 1.[23]

Basketball

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Main article: Vitória S.C. (basketball)

Vitória S.C. men's basketball team plays in the LPB.

Volleyball

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Main article: Vitória S.C. (volleyball)

Vitória Sport Clube has a volleyball team which plays in the Portuguese Volleyball League A1.

Water polo

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Main article: Vitória S.C. (water polo)

Vitória Sport Clube has a water polo team which plays in the Water Polo First Division.[24]

Cycling Team

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Main article: Vitória S.C. (cycling team)

Vitória S.C. already had a cycling team, at the beginning of the 21st century, with the European status of UCI Continental Tour. The team code UCI: ASC, participated mainly in national competitions such as the famous Tour of Portugal.

References

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  1. ^ Geraldo, Inês (23 May 2015). "Sp. Braga e Vitória de Guimarães goleiam no encerramento da Liga Portuguesa". Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Património". vitoriasc.pt. Vitória Sport Clube. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  3. ^ Guimarães, José Eduardo (2020-09-18). "Vitória-Belenenses de nível clássico". Guimarães, agora! (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  4. ^ Ross, James M. (4 June 2015). "European Competitions 1986-87". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Pimenta Machado condenado a quatro anos e três meses de prisão com pena suspensa". Público (in Portuguese). 15 February 2008. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  6. ^ Mandim, David (26 February 2009). "Tribunal da Relação absolve Pimenta Machado de peculato" [Court of Appeal clears Pimenta Machado of embezzlement]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Belenenses, Guimarães e Rio Ave descem à Liga de Honra" [Belenenses, Guimarães and Rio Ave go down to Liga de Honra]. Público (in Portuguese). 7 May 2008. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Com um a mais, Vitória de Guimarães vence apertado no Português" [By a single goal, Vitória de Guimarães win tight game in Portuguese league] (in Portuguese). UOL. 17 September 2007. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Basel qualify for Champions League group stage". Swiss Info. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  10. ^ Lyon, Sam (2 October 2008). "Guimaraes 2-2 Portsmouth (2-4)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  11. ^ Ruela, João (26 May 2008). "Vit. Guimarães vence Taça de Portugal pela 1.ª vez" [Vit. Guimarães win Taça de Portugal for the 1st time]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  12. ^ Figueiredo, Catarina; Correia Rocha, Catarina; Querido, Rodrigo (28 May 2017). "Benfica vence Taça de Portugal e conquista a 11.ª dobradinha" (in Portuguese). Correio da Manhã. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Vitória fica na história com 'onze' sem europeus" [Vitória make history with 'eleven' without Europeans]. Record (in Portuguese). 15 September 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  14. ^ Teles, Gonçalo (19 May 2021). "Benfica vence em Guimarães com dois golos de Seferovic. Vitória falha Europa" [Benfica win in Guimarães with two goals from Seferovic. Vitória miss Europe] (in Portuguese). TSF. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Parceria da V Sports com o Vitória Sport Clube - Vitória Sport Clube". 2023-02-14. Archived from the original on 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  16. ^ Geral. "Acompanhe em directo a Assembleia Geral do Vitória". GUIMARAESDIGITAL.COM (in European Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2023-03-04. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  17. ^ "Liga Portugal". www.ligaportugal.pt. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  18. ^ "Património - Vitória Sport Clube" (in European Portuguese). 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  19. ^ "Intervenção de melhoramento na casa das modalidades - Vitória Sport Clube" (in European Portuguese). 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  20. ^ "Vitória Sport Clube :: Estatísticas :: Títulos :: Palmarés :: História :: Golos :: Próximos Jogos :: Resultados :: Notícias :: Videos :: Fotos :: Plantel :: Zerozero.pt". Archived from the original on 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  21. ^ "Liga Portuguesa :: Participantes :: zerozero.pt". www.zerozero.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  22. ^ "Equipa Principal" (in Portuguese). Vitória SC. 7 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Andebol - Vitória Sport Clube" (in European Portuguese). 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  24. ^ "Polo Aquático - Vitória Sport Clube" (in European Portuguese). 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
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