Vitória S.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Vitória Sport Clube | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Os Conquistadores (The Conquerors) Os Vimaranenses (The ones from Guimarães) |
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| Founded | 22 September 1922 | |||
| Ground | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques | |||
| Capacity | 30,029 | |||
| Owner | Vitória Sport Clube (majority) V Sports (Nassef Sawiris & Wes Edens) |
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| Chairman | António Miguel Cardoso | |||
| Manager | Rui Borges | |||
| League | Primeira Liga | |||
| 2023–24 | Primeira Liga, 5th of 18 | |||
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Vitória Sport Clube, often called Vitória de Guimarães, is a professional football club from Guimarães, Portugal. They play in the Primeira Liga, which is the top football league in Portugal.
Vitória de Guimarães has finished third in the Primeira Liga four times. Their most recent third-place finish was in the 2007–08 season. The club has won the Taça de Portugal once, in 2012–13. They also won the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in 1988. They have been runners-up in the Taça de Portugal six times.
The club often plays in European competitions. Their best result was reaching the quarter-finals of the 1986–87 UEFA Cup.
Contents
History of Vitória Sport Clube
Vitória Sport Clube was started in 1922. The club's name might be a nod to Vitória de Setúbal, another strong team at that time.
After many years of hard work, Vitória de Guimarães joined the Primeira Liga in 1941. Just two seasons later, they played in their first Taça de Portugal final in 1942. However, they lost 2–0 to Belenenses.
The team's best performance in a European tournament was in the 1986–87 UEFA Cup. They made it to the quarter-finals but were defeated by the German club Borussia Mönchengladbach.
In the early 2000s, Vitória faced some tough times. Despite these challenges, in the 2004–05 season, the club finished fifth in the league. This allowed them to play in the UEFA Cup again.
However, the next season (2005–06), they were moved down to the Segunda Liga. This was the first time they had been in the second division since 1958. Even so, they reached the semi-finals of the Taça de Portugal that year. In the UEFA Cup, they did not make it past the group stage.
Vitória quickly returned to the top league. They finished second in the Segunda Liga under manager Manuel Cajuda. In the 2007–08 season, they achieved their best-ever third-place finish. This earned them a spot in the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds for the first time. They lost to Swiss team FC Basel, which meant they moved to the 2008–09 UEFA Cup first round. There, they lost to England's Portsmouth.
In the 2012–13 season, led by Rui Vitória, the club had money problems. They had to rely on young players. But, they surprised everyone by winning their first Taça de Portugal title. They beat rivals Braga and then came from behind to defeat Benfica 2–1 in the final.
In 2017, Vitória reached the cup final again. They lost 2–1 to S.L. Benfica. That same year, they made history in European competitions. They were the first team to start a game without any European players on the field. In 2020–21, the club had four different managers. They finished seventh, just missing out on playing in Europe.
In February 2023, Vitória agreed to sell part of the club to V Sports. This company is owned by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, who also own Premier League club Aston Villa. The deal was worth €5 million. V Sports also offered a credit line of up to €20 million and planned to invest €2 million in sports facilities. Vitória's members voted for the deal, with about 88% saying yes. However, due to UEFA rules, V Sports' share had to be reduced to 29%.
Sports Venues
D. Afonso Henriques Stadium
The team plays its home games at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques. This stadium can hold over 30,029 fans. After the "Big Three" clubs in Portugal, Vitória attracts the most supporters to its stadium. They often have an average of 20,000 fans per game. Vitória usually has more fans attending games than other clubs, even when they played in the Second Division.
Other Infrastructures
Vitória SC Sports Complex
This complex opened in 1997. It was inspired by AC Milan's sports complex. The Sports Complex is where the club's offices are. It's also where the main football team trains. The youth teams train and play their games here too. It has three natural grass fields and three artificial fields. There's also a gym, many changing rooms, a mini stadium, and a sports hall.
Vitória SC Mini Stadium
This mini stadium is part of the Sports Complex. It has space for 2,500 fans. It is the home ground for the B team and the under-19s team. It also has a special area for VIPs, three snack bars, six changing rooms, and a technical support area.
Vimaranense Unit Sports Pavilion
This Pavilion is also part of the Sports Complex. It opened in 1997 and can hold 2,500 people. It's where many of Vitória SC's other sports teams train and compete. About 600 athletes use it every week. Because more fans are coming to games, the Pavilion was updated in 2024. This was done to make it better for everyone.
Guimarães Sports City
The Sports City is a group of sports facilities in Guimarães. It can host big national and international events. Vitória SC athletes and teams often use these facilities. This includes the swimming pool complex and the athletics track.
Honours and Trophies
| National Competitions | ||||
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| Competition | Titles | Seasons | Runners-up | |
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Taça de Portugal | 1 | 2012/13 | 1941/42, 1962/63, 1975/76,
1987/88, 2010/11, 2016/17 |
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Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira | 1 | 1988 | 2011, 2013, 2017 |
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Total Trophies | 2 | 2 Nationals | 9 Runner-up |
League and Cup History Highlights
Vitória de Guimarães has played 79 seasons in Portugal's top football league. This makes them the club with the fourth-longest time in the top division. Only Benfica, Porto, and Sporting CP have played more seasons.
European Matches Summary
Vitória Sport Clube has often played in European competitions. Their journey includes matches in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, UEFA Cup (now UEFA Europa League), UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa Conference League. They have faced teams from many different countries. Their best result was reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1986–87.
Players
Current Squad
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Players Out on Loan
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Club Staff
| 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 |
Other Sports at Vitória SC
Vitória Sport Clube is not just about football! It also has teams in other sports.
Handball
Vitória Sport Clube has a handball team. They play in the top division, called Andebol 1.
Basketball
The men's basketball team for Vitória S.C. plays in the LPB, which is Portugal's main basketball league.
Volleyball
Vitória Sport Clube also has a volleyball team. They compete in the Portuguese Volleyball League A1.
Water Polo
There is also a water polo team at Vitória Sport Clube. They play in the Water Polo First Division.
Cycling Team
In the early 2000s, Vitória S.C. even had a cycling team! It was a professional team that raced in national events like the famous Tour of Portugal.
See also
In Spanish: Vitória Sport Clube para niños
