F.C. Paços de Ferreira

Paços de Ferreira

Full name	Futebol Clube Paços de Ferreira
Nickname(s)	Os Castores (Beavers) Os Pacenses (Those from Paços) Auri-Verdes
Founded	1950
Ground	Mata Real, Paços de Ferreira, Portugal (Capacity: 5,255)
Chairman	Fernando Sequeira
Manager	Luís Miguel
League	Primeira Liga
2010–11	Primeira Liga, 7th
Home colours Away colours

Futebol Clube Paços de Ferreira (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpasuʃ dɨ fɨˈʁɐjɾɐ]) is a Portuguese football based in Paços de Ferreira, Porto district. Founded in 1950, it currently plays in the Portuguese first division, holding home games at the 5,172-seat capacity Estádio da Mata Real, where the team has been based since 1973. Club colours are yellow and green.

Having won the second division league three times, and achieving in 2006–07's top flight its first ever qualification for the UEFA Cup, Paços has a curious habit of playing Spanish side Celta de Vigo every pre-season.

History

The origin of the club dates back to the 1930s, when it was named Sport Club Pacense. It played two decades without any official recognition until it began playing in the lower divisions in the 1950s, under the name Futebol Clube Vasco da Gama, the name eventually given to Brazilian side Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama. The club then changed the kit colours to the current ones and renamed themselves Futebol Clube Paços de Ferreira.

Their beginnings with the current denomination came on 19 November 1950, beating A.D. Lousada 2–1. Agostinho Alves was the first goal scorer in the history of the Pacenses. The club then played in Portugal's third regional division until the 1956–57 season, where they were crowned champions. The club crest was created in 1961–62, and was used ever since.

The club was relegated and then promoted again and supporters hit the streets of the city on 17 June 1973 when they defeated Perosinho 3–0. One year later, it conquered the fourth division championship on 14 June 1974, after defeating Estrela de Portalegre. The hero of the game was goalscorer Mascarenhas.

After establishing in the first division during the 1990s, and suffering a relegation in 2003–04, the club finished sixth in 2006–07, thus qualifying for the UEFA Cup, its first ever European competition, led by coach José Mota after impressive wins against Sporting Clube de Portugal and ties with S.L. Benfica and F.C. Porto. They were ousted after a good fight, losing 0–1 on aggregate to AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands.

Previously, in 2005–06, the club started a run of 14 unbeaten games at home which only ended on 22 January 2007, at the hands of Vitória de Setúbal (1–2).

Having finished last in the league in 2007–08, Paços would have normally been relegated to the second level, but was readmitted after Boavista FC's confirmed irregularities. In the following year, already without manager Mota, the team had a reasonably successful season: a comfortable 10th place in the league and a second Europa League qualification spot after losing the Cup of Portugal final to eventual league champions Porto.

Current squad

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Cássio 3 DF Reinaldo Lobo 4 DF Fábio Faria (on loan from Benfica) 5 DF Javier Cohene 6 MF Vítor 7 MF Josué 8 MF André Leão 9 FW Cícero 10 MF Luíz Carlos 11 FW Rui Caetano 14 DF Eridson 15 MF Luisinho

No. Position Player 16 FW Michel Lugo 17 FW Nuno Santos 18 FW Sassá 20 DF Bacar Baldé 22 DF Marcelo Tchê 23 DF Diogo Figueiras 25 FW Lorenzo Melgarejo 30 FW Michel 45 GK António Filipe 81 MF Manuel José 96 MF Filipe Anunciação 99 FW William

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player 21 FW Padraig Amond (at Accrington Stanley) 70 FW Alvarinho (at Fátima)

Honours

• Portuguese Cup: Runner-up 2008–09
• Portuguese Supercup: Runner-up 2009
• Portuguese League Cup: Runner-up 2010–11
• Liga de Honra: 1990–91, 1999–00, 2004–05 (2nd Tier)
• Portuguese Third Division: 1973–74 (3rd Tier)

European matches

• 2007–08 UEFA Cup:
• 20/09 Paços de Ferreira 0–1
• 04/10 AZ 0–0 Paços de Ferreira

• 2009–10 UEFA Europa League:
• 16/07 Zimbru Chişinău 0–0 Paços de Ferreira
• 23/07 Paços de Ferreira 1–0 Zimbru Chişinău
• 28/07 Bnei Yehuda 1–0 Paços de Ferreira
• 06/08 Paços de Ferreira 0–1 Bnei Yehuda

UEFA rankings

Club ranking eligible for 2010–11

Rank	Team	Points
158	Zakarpattia Uzhhorod	7.9900
159	Lokomotiv Sofia	7.9750
160	Paços de Ferreira	7.8474
160	União de Leiria	7.8424

• UEFA rankings; at Zerozero

Notable former players

Dedé Édson Gualberto Mojica Beto Cristiano Gustavo Manduca Wesley Nikola Spasov André Bikey Alain N'Kong Adalberto

Geraldo Alves José Furtado José Mota Mangualde Marco Ferreira Mário Sérgio Miguel Reisinho Pedro Vitorino Antunes Zé Manel Mario Rondón

Supporters

The supporters' club, "Ultras Yellow Boys," was founded in 1996, returning afterwards in 2001. Two previous groups, however extinct, existed: "Febre Amarela" and "Yellowmania".

External links

• Official website (Portuguese)
• Detailed up-to-date club news
• Official fansite
• Ultras Yellow Boys