Vitória S.C.

Not to be confused with Vitória F.C..

Vitória de Guimarães

150 px
Full name	Vitória Sport Clube
Nickname(s)	Vitória de Guimarães Os Vimaranenses (The ones from Guimarães Os Branquinhos (The Little Whites) Os Afonsinos (Afonso's ones) Os Conquistadores (The Conquerors)
Founded	1922 (1922)
Ground	Estádio D. Afonso Henriques
Ground Capacity	30,165
Chairman	Júlio Mendes
Manager	Sergio Conceiçao
League	Primeira Liga
2014–15	5th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Vitória Sport Clube, commonly known as Vitória de Guimarães, is a football club based in Guimarães, Portugal.

As a top contender to the title of fourth best supported club in Portugal, it has tried to end the favoritism of the so-called "Big Three" (Benfica, Porto and Sporting CP), maintaining good positions in the Primeira Liga, where it has finished third on four occasions, the last one in 2007–08 season.

As a rule in recent years, Vitória de Guimarães has been battling for European places, trying to place 5th or above in the league. In its history, they have won one Portuguese Cup and one Super Cup. Its main rivals are SC Braga, of the neighbouring city, with whom the club disputes the "Derby of Minho". Vitória's crest, nickname, and stadium honour Afonso Henriques, first King of Portugal and possibly a Guimarães native.

Besides football, the club has other sports sections, such as volleyball (National Champion in 2007–08), basketball (League Champion in 2006–07 and Cup Champion in 2007–08), swimming, water polo, kickboxing, judo, beach soccer, table tennis, athletics, women's futsal, among others.

History

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 toiling in the Braga FA leagues, the Vimaranenses were first promoted to the Primeira Liga in 1941, and two seasons later battled the Sadinos from Setúbal for the first time in the League. Surprise package Guimarães, against all odds, reached their first Cup final in their debut season, but fell to Belenenses 2–0.

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 Borussia Monchengladbach of West Germany.

In the early 2000s, Vitória struggled in some years to retain its status in the top Portuguese division (Superliga). Those years were marked by the decline of the leadership of Pimenta Machado, former president of the club. Machado was accused on charges of embezzlement. Despite this, in 2004-2005 they secured an impressive fifth-place finish in the league and qualified for European competition (the UEFA Cup). However the renaissance ended quickly and the very next season (2005–06) they were relegated to the Segunda Liga where they last played in 1958, finishing 17th in the Superliga, despite reaching the cup semi-final, having beaten Benfica in the quarter-finals. They 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.

After the club's relegation, it was felt Vitória would return to the First Division quite easily, even though the team itself wasn't that strong. Vitória, by the middle of the season, was only around 10th place and lower, with seemingly little chance of promotion. However during the winter break, there was a change in the club's direction and a new coach was hired, Manuel Cajuda. Vitória improved their form and finally managed to reach second place in the 29th game of the season; promotion was guaranteed.

In their first season back in the top flight they continued their winning form, achieving an impressive third place in 2007–08, guaranteeing them a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. They lost there to Swiss team Basel due to a clean goal disallowed by the referee in the last minutes of the second leg match (Platini himself referred to this) and dropped into the UEFA Cup first round. There they played Portsmouth of the Premier League over two legs however Portsmouth progressed, winning 4–2 on aggregate.

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 Portuguese Football Cup, 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.

In 2013–14, VSC became the first Portuguese club to offer free tickets to a European competition's game.

Stadium

Main article: Estádio D. Afonso Henriques

File:Estádio de Guimarães.JPG

The Estádio D. Afonso Henriques seen from the outside

The Estádio D. Afonso Henriques was expanded and refurbished for the UEFA Euro 2004 competition, and it seats 29,865 people. It held two group matches in the tournament, and has also been a venue on four occasions for the Portugal national football team.

After Os Três Grandes , Vitória is the club which attracts most supporters to the stadium, 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.

Support and rivalry

Vitória play the derby of Minho Province against neighbours Sporting Clube de Braga. This derby is considered one of Portugal's most intense matches, as both clubs battle each year to reach a European competition. The derby also intensified during the run-up to the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament hosted by Portugal, as both clubs had new stadia built as tournament venues.

The biggest supporter group is the White Angels, who go by the motto Somos únicos (We are unique). A self-confessed Vitória fan is Fernando Meira, who played at the club. Meira, as the captain of VfB Stuttgart, raised 2007 Bundesliga trophy wearing a Vitória scarf.

Honours

• Portuguese Cup

• Winners (1): 2012–13
• Runners-up (5): 1941–42, 1962–63, 1975–76, 1987–88, 2010–11

• Supertaça de Portugal

• Winners (1): 1988
• Runners-up (2): 2011, 2013

League and Cup history

The club's 70 seasons in the top level of Portuguese football make them the club with the joint-fourth longest time there, after FC Porto, Sporting CP, and Benfica (all with 81); and Belenenses with 74.

Season	League	Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Cup	League Cup	Supercup	Champions League	Europa League	Cup Winner's Cup	Notes
1941–42	1D	11	22	6	1	15	43	76	13	Runner–up	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1942–43	1D	8	18	6	2	10	48	76	14	Round 5	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1943–44	1D	8	18	2	3	13	25	68	7	Semi-final	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1944–45	1D	8	18	4	3	11	32	57	11	Round 6	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1945–46	1D	8	22	8	2	12	39	52	18	Quarter-final	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1946–47	1D	8	26	8	8	10	54	54	24	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1947–48	1D	7	26	10	4	12	44	56	24	Round 5	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1948–49	1D	6	26	11	4	11	47	50	26	Round 6	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1949–50	1D	11	26	7	7	12	45	59	21	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1950–51	1D	13	26	6	6	14	40	57	18	Quarter-final	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1951–52	1D	10	26	9	3	14	28	47	21	Round 6	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1952–53	1D	8	26	7	6	13	28	54	20	Quarter-final	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1953–54	1D	8	26	10	5	11	44	64	25	Quarter-final	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held
1954–55	1D	14	26	5	7	14	33	49	17	Round 5	not held	not held	not held	not held	not held	Relegated
1955–56	2D	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		not held	not held			not held
1956–57	2D	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		not held	not held			not held
1957–58	2D	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		not held	not held			not held	Promoted
1958–59	1D	5	26	13	3	10	59	55	29	Round 6	not held	not held			not held
1959–60	1D	7	26	8	7	11	47	43	23	Quarter-final	not held	not held			not held
1960–61	1D	4	26	14	2	10	48	44	30	Round 6	not held	not held
1961–62	1D	9	26	9	4	13	44	47	22	Semi-final	not held	not held
1962–63	1D	6	26	12	3	11	47	43	27	Runner–up	not held	not held
1963–64	1D	4	26	16	2	8	62	42	34	Round 6	not held	not held
1964–65	1D	7	26	12	5	9	44	36	29	Round 6	not held	not held
1965–66	1D	4	26	14	5	7	58	47	33	Round 5	not held	not held
1966–67	1D	6	26	11	4	11	35	40	26	Round 5	not held	not held
1967–68	1D	6	26	12	3	11	31	34	27	Quarter-final	not held	not held
1968–69	1D	3	26	13	10	3	46	17	36	Quarter-final	not held	not held
1969–70	1D	5	26	12	4	10	38	36	28	Quarter-final	not held	not held		Round 2
1970–71	1D	12	26	4	11	11	15	27	19	Round 5	not held	not held		Round 2
1971–72	1D	6	30	11	8	11	49	47	30	Round 5	not held	not held
1972–73	1D	6	30	11	11	8	38	38	33	Round 6	not held	not held
1973–74	1D	6	30	10	11	9	36	34	31	Round 5	not held	not held
1974–75	1D	5	30	16	6	8	64	36	38	Round 6	not held	not held
1975–76	1D	6	30	13	10	7	49	32	36	Runner–up	not held	not held
1976–77	1D	9	30	10	6	14	39	38	26	Round 6	not held	not held
1977–78	1D	6	30	12	7	11	33	28	31	Round 5	not held	not held
1978–79	1D	6	30	12	7	11	44	38	31	Round 6	not held
1979–80	1D	6	30	11	10	9	42	38	32	Round 5	not held
1980–81	1D	5	30	11	9	10	38	30	31	Round 5	not held
1981–82	1D	4	30	13	12	5	42	22	38	Round 5	not held
1982–83	1D	4	30	11	10	9	35	24	32	Round 5	not held
1983–84	1D	6	30	14	3	13	41	41	31	Semi-final	not held			Round 1
1984–85	1D	9	30	9	7	14	33	39	25	Round 6	not held
1985–86	1D	4	30	16	8	6	51	29	40	Round 6	not held
1986–87	1D	3	30	14	13	3	45	22	41	Quarter-final	not held			Quarter-final
1987–88	1D	14	38	11	11	16	48	50	33	Runner–up	not held			Round 3
1988–89	1D	9	38	14	10	14	39	33	38	Round 5	not held	Winner			Round 1
1989–90	1D	4	34	17	11	6	46	28	45	Semi-final	not held
1990–91	1D	9	38	12	10	16	31	40	34	Round 6	not held			Round 1
1991–92	1D	5	34	14	13	7	46	35	41	Round 5	not held
1992–93	1D	11	34	14	3	17	41	53	31	Semi-final	not held			Round 2
1993–94	1D	7	34	11	11	12	30	31	33	Round 5	not held
1994–95	1D	4	34	16	10	8	54	43	42	Round 5	not held
1995–96	1D	5	34	19	5	10	55	39	62	Quarter-final	not held			Round 2
1996–97	1D	5	34	15	8	11	51	46	53	Round 5	not held			Round 2
1997–98	1D	3	34	17	8	9	42	25	59	Round 5	not held			Round 1
1998–99	1D	7	34	14	8	12	53	41	50	Round 5	not held			Round 1
1999–00	1D	7	34	14	6	14	48	43	48	Quarter-final	not held				not held
2000–01	1D	15	34	9	9	16	41	49	36	Round 5	not held				not held
2001–02	1D	9	34	11	9	14	35	41	42	Round 5	not held				not held
2002–03	1D	4	34	14	8	12	47	46	50	Round 5	not held				not held
2003–04	1D	14	34	9	10	15	31	40	37	Round 5	not held				not held
2004–05	1D	5	34	15	9	10	38	29	54	Round 5	not held				not held
2005–06	1D	17	34	8	10	16	28	41	34	Semi-final	not held			Group Stage	not held	Relegated
2006–07	2D	2	30	16	7	7	44	20	55	Round 5	not held				not held	Promoted
2007–08	1D	3	30	15	8	7	35	31	53	Round 5	Round 3				not held
2008–09	1D	8	30	10	8	12	32	36	38	Quarter-final	Semi-final		Third Qualifying Round	Round 1	not held
2009–10	1D	6	30	11	8	11	31	34	41	Round 5	Round 3				not held
2010–11	1D	5	30	12	7	11	36	36	43	Runner–up	Round 3				not held
2011–12	1D	6	30	14	3	13	40	40	45	Round 4	Round 3	Runner–up		Play-off Round	not held
2012–13	1D	9	30	11	7	12	36	47	40	Winner	Round 3				not held
2013–14	1D	10	30	10	5	15	30	35	35	Round 3	Round 2	Runner–up		Group Stage	not held
2014–15	1D	5	34	15	10	9	50	35	55	Round 4	Group Stage				not held

Current squad

As of 24 July, 2015. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Douglas Jesus (vice-captain) 2 DF Pedrão 3 DF Josué Sá 5 DF Luís Rocha 6 DF Moreno (captain) 7 FW Ricardo Valente 9 FW Tomané 10 MF Santiago Montoya (on loan from Vasco da Gama) 11 FW Licá (on loan from Porto) 13 GK Assis Giovanaz 14 FW Alex 15 DF João Afonso 18 FW Ricardo Gomes 23 DF Pedro Correia 26 MF Cafú

No. Position Player 29 DF Alvin Arrondel 33 FW João Vigário 35 DF Dénis Duarte 48 MF Bruno Alves 52 MF Otávio (on loan from Porto) 55 MF Joseph Amoah 58 MF João Pedro 66 DF Breno (on loan from Grêmio) 70 MF Tozé 76 DF Bruno Gaspar 80 FW Inters Gui 89 FW Henrique Dourado 93 DF Dalbert 94 MF Cafú Phete 99 MF Bouba Saré

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player — FW Cláudio (at Porto until the end of the 2015–16 season)

Notable former players

• Issam El Adoua
• Kamel Ghilas
• Soudani
• Marco Freitas
• Edmur
• Nilson Corrêa
• Paulinho Cascavel
• Pedro Geromel
• Dane Kuprešanin
• Edwin Congo
• Etienne N'tsunda
• N'Dinga
• Sebastian Svärd
• Yves Desmarets

• Attila Dragóner
• Paíto
• Marek Saganowski
• Bébé
• Bruno Alves
• Capucho
• César Peixoto
• Dimas
• Fernando Meira
• Gregório Freixo
• João Alves
• Laureta
• Neno
• Nuno Assis

• Nuno Espírito Santo
• Paulo Bento
• Pedro Barbosa
• Pedro Mendes
• Pelé
• Silvino
• Vieirinha
• Vítor Damas
• Vítor Paneira
• Ivan Đurđević
• Zlatko Zahovič
• Fredrik Söderström
• Selim Benachour
• Ziad Tlemçani

Notable former Managers

• Joaquim Couteiro (1925–26)
• Genecy (1932–33)
• Puskas (1933–35)
• Alberto Augusto (1935–37)
• Genecy (1939–42)
• Alberto Augusto (1942–45)
• Virgílio Freitas (1945–47)
• Alfredo Valadas (1947–49)
• János Biri (1949–51)
• Sándor Peics (1951–52)
• Cândido Tavares (1952–54)
• Randolph Galloway (1954–55)
• Fernando Vaz (1955–56)
• Oscar Tellechea (1956–57)
• Fernando Vaz (1957–58)
• Mario Amaro (1958–59)
• Humberto Buchelli (1959–60)
• Artur Quaresma (1960–62)
• José Valle (1962–64)
• Jean Luciano (1964–67)
• Juca (July 1, 1967 – June 30, 1968)
• Jorge Vieira (1968–69)

• Giba (1968–69)
• Fernando Caiado (1969–70)
• Jorge Vieira (1970–71)
• Mário Wilson (1971–75)
• Fernando Caiado (1975–77)
• Mário Wilson (1977–79)
• Mário Imbelloni (1979–80)
• Fernando Peres (1980–81)
• José Pedroto "Zé do Boné" (July 1, 1980 – June 30, 1982)
• Manuel José (1982–83)
• Hermann Stessl (July 1, 1983 – May 31, 1984)
• Raymond Goethals (July 1, 1984 – June 30, 1986)
• António Morais (1985–86)
• Paulo Autuori (1986–87)
• Marinho Peres (1986–87)
• António Oliveira (July 1, 1987 – June 30, 1988)
• Geninho (1988–89)
• Paulo Autuori (July 1, 1989 – June 30, 1991)
• João Alves (1991–92)
• Marinho Peres (1992–93)
• Romeu Silva (1993–95)
• Vítor Oliveira (1995–96)

• Romeu Silva (1996)
• Jaime Pacheco (1996–98)
• Quinito (1997–98)
• Zoran Filipović (1997–98)
• Quinito (July 1, 1997 – June 30, 2000)
• Paulo Autuori (2000)
• Álvaro Magalhães (2000–01)
• Augusto Inácio (Jan 28, 2001–Dec 8, 2003)
• Jorge Jesus (Dec 8, 2003–May 10, 2004)
• Manuel Machado (June 8, 2004 – June 30, 2005)
• Jaime Pacheco (July 1, 2005–Dec 9, 2005)
• Basílio Marques (interim) (Dec 9, 2005–May 14, 2006)
• Vítor Pontes (Dec 15, 2005–May 9, 2006)
• Luís Norton de Matos (May 10, 2006–Dec 19, 2006)
• Manuel Cajuda (Dec 24, 2006–June 23, 2009)
• Nelo Vingada (June 26, 2009–Oct 7, 2009)
• Basílio Marques (interim) (Oct 8, 2009–Oct 15, 2009)
• Paulo Sérgio (Oct 15, 2009–May 13, 2010)
• Manuel Machado (May 24, 2010–Aug 26, 2011)
• Basílio Marques (interim) (Aug 27, 2011–Aug 30, 2011)
• Rui Vitória (Aug 31, 2011–June 11, 2015)

Basketball

Main article: Vitória S.C. (basketball)

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

Volleyball

Main article: Vitória S.C. (volleyball)

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

External links

• Official website
• Guimaraes info at zerozero.pt