F.C. Tirsense

F.C. Tirsense

Full name	Futebol Clube Tirsense
Founded	1938
Ground	Abel Alves de Figueiredo, Santo Tirso
Ground Capacity	12,000
Chairman	Fernando Matos
Manager	Toni Pereira
League	Portuguese Second Division Serie A
2011/12	Portuguese Second Division Serie A – "Zona Norte", 7th
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

Futebol Clube Tirsense, commonly known as just Tirsense, is a Portuguese football club from Santo Tirso, founded in January 5, 1938. They currently play in the Portuguese Second Division Serie A and finished last season in 2nd place, but lost in the playoffs in the 2007–08 season. They currently play their home games in Abel Alves de Figueiredo with a capacity of 12,000 spectators. Their current chairman is Vítor Carvalho and their manager is Joaquim Machado.

History

The club's finest hour came without doubt in 1948–49 when, under the management of Artur Pinga, they knocked the all-conquering Sporting Clube de Portugal side of the "Five Violins" out of the Portuguese Cup with a 2–1 victory. In 1994–95, they finished eighth (one win away from a UEFA Cup position) in the First Division, their highest-ever position. The following year, however, they were relegated, in the first of four consecutive demotions, dropping from the main championship in 1996 to the regional championships in 1999. The following year, the club was promoted to the Third Division. In spite of this, Tirsense has a usual attendance of 1,500 to 2,000, among the best in Portuguese non-professional championships. Assuming an amateur status since 2004, the club is making a successful task honouring debts, and aspires to make a comeback to the top in a near future. Marcelo (who later played in England), along with Emerson Thome (better known in Portugal as Paredão), and Everton Giovanella (Celta de Vigo), are the most internationally known former club players. Recent names like Caetano, Rui Manuel, or Batista are also well remembered by the fans. From the more distant years, António Luís and Festa (former Portuguese international) are some of the most sounding names. Tirsense is currently coached by Joaquim Machado, who at his first season at the club as head coach (2006–07), managed to promote Tirsense to the Second Division, where the club currently competes in its Serie A.

Fans

The club has an organised fan group called Juve Negra and a small ultras group called the Black Lions, founded in 2012.

League and cup history

Total game history

• Liga Portuguesa: 256 games, 65 wins, 73 ties, 118 losses, 219 GS 370 GA
• Taça de Portugal 127 games, 58 wins, 18 ties, 51 losses, 183 GS, 180 GA
• II Divisão B: 31 games, 15 wins, 6 ties, 10 losses, 38 GS, 32 GA
• IV and III Divisão: 96 games, 46 wins, 21 ties, 29 losses, 134 GS, 93 GA

Former international footballers

The following footballers have been playing for their national football team while playing for Tirsense:

Current squad

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 Hélder Ribeiro 3 DF Serginho 4 MF Hugo Cruz 5 DF Hélder Rocha 6 DF Paulo Sampaio 7 MF Marco Louçano 8 MF Veloso 9 FW Hugo Oliveira 10 MF Flávio Ígor 11 FW Vítor Hugo 14 MF João Pedro 15 MF Pedro Fontes 16 MF Vítor Hugo

No. Position Player 17 DF Barroso 18 MF Fonseca 19 GK Sérgio 20 MF Ricardo Rocha 21 FW Correia 22 DF Queirós 23 DF Zé Manuel 25 FW Manuel Luís 26 DF Vilaça 29 MF Pedro Pinto 38 GK Hugo Marques 40 DF Pedro Brás André

Honours

• Segunda Liga
  • Winners (1): 1993–94
• Portuguese Second Division
  • Winners (1): 1969–70

Presidents

• Alcindo dos Reis (until 2011)
• Ricardo Rossi (from 2011)

Managers

• Dinis Rodrigues (until 2011)
• Quim Machado (from 2011))

External links

• Official website (in Portuguese)