Leixões S.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Leixões S.C.


fullname = Leixões Sport Club
nickname = "The Babies", "Sea Heroes"
founded = 1907
ground = Estádio do Mar,
Matosinhos
capacity = 8,035
chairman = flagicon|Portugal José Fonseca
flagicon|Portugal Carlos Oliveira
manager = flagicon|Portugal José Mota
league = Portuguese Liga
season = 2007-08
position = Portuguese Liga, 14th
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leftarm1=ffffff|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=ffffff|shorts1=ffffff|socks1=FF0000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=ffffff|body2=ffffff|rightarm2=ffffff|shorts2=ffffff|socks2=ffffff

Leixões Sport Club, or simply Leixões, is a sports club from Matosinhos, Portugal. It is organized into several specialized departments for many events like football, boxing, karate, volleyball, swimming, and billiards. Its professional football team is its most well known department.

History

Leixões Sport Club was formed in 1907, this makes them one of Portugal's most historic sports clubs. Although not known to many clubs in Europe in the modern game, in the 1960s they managed to win the Cup of Portugal (against F.C. Porto 1n 1961) and featured regularly in the European Competitions. They then disappeared in the late 70's into the lower echelons of Portuguese football and were seemingly forgotten, but in 2002 they returned to the main stage with a tremendous Cup run, defeating Sporting Braga 3-1 away to secure a place in the final and the UEFA Cup next season. They lost 1-0 to Sporting CP, who also became national champions that year. The following season they lost 5-3 on aggregate to Greek side PAOK Salonika after winning the first leg 2-1 at home, being eliminated in the first round of the UEFA Cup. That same year, they romped to the Segunda Divisão (Division Two) title with 94 points and with it, they gained promotion to the Liga de Honra. In 2004 they just avoided relegation back to Division Two and finished 14th. A year later they battled to finish 7th in the League. And finally in 2006 they almost reached the Portuguese Liga, losing out to Desportivo das Aves in the Promotion chase, finishing 3rd, two points behind Aves. Third place used to merit a promotion, but due to a re-construction to all leagues it meant only the top two would go up (Beira-Mar as Champions and Aves as runners-up). Finally, in 2007, they gained promotion to the Liga, 18 years after their relegation.

Achievements

* Portuguese Liga: 5th place - 1962/63
* Portuguese Cup: Champion - 1960/61, Finalist - 2001/02
* Portuguese Supercup: Finalist - 2001/02
* Portuguese Liga de Honra: Champion - 2006/07
* Portuguese Second Division: Champion (Northern Zone) - 2002/03
* Inter-Cities Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup: 1st Round - 1964/65, 1968/69 and 2002/03
* UEFA Cup Winner's Cup: Quarter-final - 1961/1962

League and Cup history

The club has 22 presences at the top level of Portuguese football, and was present at two cup finals, one of which it won, beating FC Porto on the latter's home ground (Estádio das Antas).

:

*CL: Campeonato da Liga (winners weren't considered Portuguese champions)
*1D: Portuguese Liga and predecessors (1st level)
*2H: Liga de Honra (2nd level)
*2DN: Portuguese Second Division, Northern Zone (pre-1991: 2nd level; post 1991: 3rd level)

*CWC: Cup Winners' Cup
*FC: Fairs Cup
*UC: UEFA Cup

Current squad

Famous players

*flagicon|Portugal Diogo Valente
*flagicon|Portugal Filipe Oliveira
*flagicon|Portugal Paulo Machado
*flagicon|Portugal Vieirinha
*flagicon|Portugal Castanheira
*flagicon|Brazil Ezequias
*flagicon|Brazil Roberto
*flagicon|Brazil Tales Schutz
*flagicon|Gabon Henry Antchouet
*flagicon|Malta Udo Nwoko

Trivia

*Leixões holds the record for the best comeback in a tie of the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup. In the 1961/62 season, in the first round, Leixões lost 6-2 away against Switzerland's FC La Chaux-de-Fonds. At home, they recovered to win 5-0, winning the tie 7-6 on aggregate.

Notes

See also

*Leixões SC (volleyball)

External links

* [http://www.leixoessc.pt/ Official site of Leixões Sport Club]
* [http://leixoessc.com/ Fan Site]
* [http://leixoessc.blogspot.com/ Fan Blog]