Rio Ave F.C.

Rio Ave
Full name Rio Ave Futebol Clube
Nickname(s) Rio Grande (Big River)
Founded 1939
Ground Estádio do Rio Ave
Capacity 12,815
Chairman António Campos
Manager Pedro Martins
League Primeira Liga
2013–14 11th
Website Club home page

Rio Ave Futebol Clube, commonly known as Rio Ave, is a Portuguese football club based in Vila do Conde, northern Portugal. The club is named after the Ave River, which flows through the town and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Founded in 1939, it currently plays in the Primeira Liga, Portugal's top-tier division of professional football. It plays its home games at Estádio do Rio Ave FC, also known as Estádio dos Arcos. Built in 1985, "Estádio do Rio Ave FC" seats approximately 12,815 people and is a multi-sports venue, although it is used mainly for Rio Ave's football matches.

The club's home colours are green and white striped shirts with white shorts and socks, whilst their away kit consists of a red and white striped shirt and white shorts with yellow socks. Portuguese internationals Alfredo, Paulinho Santos, Quim, Rui Jorge and Fábio Coentrão started their careers at the club.

The Vilacondenses best top-tier league finish was fifth in the 1981-1982 season. [1] They reached the 1984 Taça de Portugal Final, where they lost to Porto 4-1, [2] and the 2014 Taça de Portugal Final where they lost to S.L. Benfica 1–0. [3] With this result, Rio Ave have a guaranteed spot in the 2014-2015 UEFA Europa League, which will mark the first time that Rio Ave have ever participated in a major European competition.

History

Rio Ave was founded in 1939, soon being nicknamed Rio Grande (Big River). In 1981-82, Rio Ave achieved its best ever league standing by finishing in fifth place, in what was then known as the Primeria Divisao (First Division). Two seasons later, it reached the Portuguese Cup final, losing to league powerhouse F.C. Porto 4-1. Most recently, Rio Ave managed to see of S.C. Braga to gain a spot in the 2014 Taça de Portugal Final, where they will face S.L. Benfica. Having just missed out on European Qualification in their record 1981-1982 league finish, Rio Ave have now acquired a guaranteed spot in the 2014-2015 UEFA Europa League, as Benfica have already qualified for the 2014-2015 UEFA Champions League through winning the 2013-2014 Primeira Liga. Their participation in the 2014-2015 edition of the Europa League will mark the first time Rio Ave have ever competed in a major European football tournament.

After spending the first part of the 1990s in the second level, the club returned to the top flight, going on to conquer the 1999 and 2003 second division. They would be relegated again in 2005-2006, returning to top-tier football in 2008–09.

European record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 3Q Sweden IFK Göteborg 0–0 1–0 1–0
PO Sweden IF Elfsborg 1–0 1–2 2–2 (a)
Group J Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv 0–3 0–2 4th place
Romania FC Steaua București 2–2 1–2
Denmark Aalborg BK 2–0 0–1[4]
Notes

Players

First-team squad

As of 21 January, 2015.[5]

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

No. Position Player
1 Brazil GK Cassio
3 France DF Prince-Désir Gouano
4 Senegal MF Pape Sow
6 Portugal MF Luis Gustavo
8 Portugal MF Tarantini (captain)
9 Egypt FW Koka
10 Brazil MF Diego Lopes
11 Belarus MF Renan Bressan
12 Brazil DF Lionn
13 Ghana FW Emmanuel Boateng
15 Portugal DF Tiago Pinto
No. Position Player
17 Portugal FW Ukra
19 Ghana FW Ernest Ohemeng
21 Netherlands MF Marvin Zeegelaar
22 Nigeria MF Sunday Abalo
25 Portugal DF Roderick Miranda
28 Venezuela FW Yonathan del Valle
30 Ghana MF Alhassan Wakaso
33 Liberia FW William Jebor
44 Portugal DF Nélson Monte
46 Brazil DF Marcelo
93 Brazil GK Ederson

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
2 Brazil DF Fabinho (at France Monaco)
7 Brazil MF Filipe Augusto (at Spain Valencia)
5 Spain MF Jonathan Ñíguez (at Portugal Freamunde)
No. Position Player
77 Portugal FW Esmaël Gonçalves (at Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta)
87 Portugal FW Renato Santos (at Portugal Tondela)
Portugal DF Silvério (at Portugal Famalicão)

Honours

National competitions

  • Runners-up (1): 2014
  • Winners (1): 1985–86
  • Runners-up (1): 1990–91
  • Winners (1): 1976–77

Regional competitions

  • Winners (1): 1966–67

Personnel honours

Notable former players

Managerial history

League and cup history

Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup League Cup Notes
1978–79 2DS 2 302055 512645 Round 4 Promoted
1979–80 1D 16 305322 226113 Round 4 Relegated
1980–81 2DS 1 3016104 431742 Round 3 Promoted
1981–82 1D 5 301389 263134 Round 5
[A]
1982–83 1D 8 3013314 434529 Round 3
1983–84 1D 9 3011712 353529 Runner-up
[B]
1984–85 1D 13 307914 274323 Quarter Final Relegated
1985–86 2DN 1 3019110 521949 Round 4 Promoted
1986–87 1D 13 308913 334025 Round 5
1987–88 1D 18 3871417 296728 Round 6 Relegated
1988–89 2DS 4 341699 513041 Round 3
1989–90 2DS 10 34101113 444731 Round 3
1990–91 2DS 4 3823105 792156 Round 6 Promoted
1991–92 2H 4 3416711 473039 Round 5
1992–93 2H 5 34141010 393638 Round 5
1993–94 2H 4 341888 432344 Quarter Final
1994–95 2H 11 3412814 474632 Round 6
1995–96 2H 1 342158 584268 Round 5 Promoted
1996–97 1D 15 3481115 354235 Round 4
1997–98 1D 9 34121012 434346 Round 5
1998–99 1D 14 3481115 264735 Round 4
1999–00 1D 17 348917 345433 Semi Final Relegated
2000–01 2H 5 341798 683560 Round 6
2001–02 2H 8 34121012 453646 Round 3
2002–03 2H 1 341969 493663 Round 5 Promoted
2003–04 1D 7 34121210 423748 Quarter Final
2004–05 1D 8 3410177 353547 Round 6
2005–06 1D 16 3481016 345334 Round 5 Relegated
2006–07 2H 3 301587 443753 Round 4
2007–08 2H 2 3013125 382651 Round 6 Round 1 Promoted
2008–09 1D 12 308616 203530 Round 3 Second Group Stage
2009–10 1D 12 3061311 223331 Semi Final Second Group Stage
2010–11 1D 8 3010812 353338 Quarter Final Round 1
2011–12 1D 14 307716 334228 Round 4 Second Group Stage
2012–13 1D 6 3012612 354242 Round 4 Semi Final
2013–14 1D 11 308814 213532 Runner-up Runner-up Qualified Europa League [B] [C]
A. ^A Best league classification finish in the club's history.
B. ^B Best cup run in the club's history.
C. ^C Best league cup run in the club's history.

Last updated: 20 December 2013
Div. = Division; 1D = Portuguese League; 2H = Liga de Honra; 2DS/2D = Portuguese Second Division
Pos. = Position; Pl = Match played; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lost; GS = Goal Scored; GA = Goal Against; P = Points

References

  1. ↑ "Rio Ave finish in record 5th place".
  2. ↑ "FC Porto 4-1 Rio Ave". ZeroZero. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Rio Ave beat Braga to reach final".
  4. ↑ Neapol vyhrála i podruhé, porazila Slovan. obhájce ztratil v Rijece, iDNES.cz, Retrieved 2. 10. 2014 (Czech)
  5. ↑ "Rio Ave Futebol Clube". ZeroZero. Retrieved 20 December 2013.

External links