Moreirense Futebol Clube is a Portuguese professional football club based in Moreira de Cónegos, Guimarães Municipality, in Minho. Founded on 1 November 1938, it plays in the Primeira Liga, holding home games at Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, with a capacity for 9,000 spectators.

Moreirense
Full nameMoreirense Futebol Clube
Nickname(s)Os verdes e brancos (The Green and whites)
Os homens de Moreira de Cónegos (The Men from Moreira de Cónegos)
FoundedNovember 1, 1938; 85 years ago (November 1, 1938)
GroundParque Moreira de Cónegos
Guimarães, Braga District
Capacity9,000
ChairmanVítor Magalhães
ManagerRui Borges
LeaguePrimeira Liga
2022–23Liga Portugal 2, 1st of 18 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website
Current season

The team first played in the second tier in 1995 and the Primeira Liga in 2002. It won the Taça da Liga in 2017 and the second division championship in 2014 and 2023.

History edit

Moreirense was founded in 1938. It first reached the Liga de Honra in 1995, where they stayed five seasons. After being relegated to Segunda Divisão, manager Manuel Machado took the team and in two years managed two promotions, getting the team for the first time to top flight. He led the northerners for two more seasons, in which Moreirense achieved two mid-table positions, finishing ninth in the latter season.

After Machado departed for neighbouring Vitória de Guimarães, the club suffered two consecutive relegations, only returning again to the second level in 2010, and the first in 2012.[1] After an immediate relegation, the team won the 2013–14 Segunda Liga under manager Toni Conceição.[2]

Moreirense achieved its first top level national title on 29 January 2017, winning the League Cup (Taça da Liga) by defeating S.C. Braga in the final.[3]

In 2018–19, manager Ivo Vieira led Moreirense to a best-ever sixth place, missing out on the fifth place only on goal difference to Vitória de Guimarães, who Vieira left the club for.[4] Following two 8th-place finishes, the team were relegated in 2021–22, a season in which they had three managers: João Henriques, Lito Vidigal and Ricardo Sá Pinto. Relegation was confirmed with a 2–1 aggregate playoff loss to G.D. Chaves.[5]

Under Paulo Alves, Moreirense instantly returned to the top flight by winning the 2022–23 Liga Portugal 2. The team took 79 points from a possible 102, the highest in an 18-team season of the league, and the highest percentage taken from any season of it.[6] Alves left at the end of the season.[7]

Honours edit

National edit

Regional edit

Recent league history edit

Players edit

Current squad edit

As of 30 January 2024[8]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF   BRA Fabiano
3 DF   BRA Carlos Henrique
6 MF   POR Ismael
7 FW   BRA Matheus Aiás
8 MF   POR André Castro
9 FW   EQG Luís Asué
10 MF   POR Pedro Aparício
11 MF   BRA Alan
12 GK   POR Mika
13 DF   SEN Alhassane Sylla
14 DF   CPV Carlos Ponck
17 FW   CUW Jeremy Antonisse
18 DF   POR Pedro Amador (captain)
19 FW   POR João Camacho
21 FW   RSA Kobamelo Kodisang
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 GK   BRA Caio Secco
23 DF   NED Godfried Frimpong
26 DF   BRA Maracás
28 FW   GNB Hernâni
31 FW   BRA Madson
32 FW   BRA Vinícius Mingotti
40 GK   BRA Kewin
44 DF   BRA Marcelo
45 MF   POR Miguel Rebelo
66 DF   POR Gilberto Batista
76 DF   POR Dinis Pinto
80 MF   GHA Lawrence Ofori
88 MF   POR Gonçalo Franco
90 FW   POR Rodrigo Macedo (on loan from Braga)

Out on loan edit

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
77 MF   GAM Matar Manga (at Real S.C. until 30 June 2024)
99 FW   GAM Ebrima Ndow (at Mirandela until 30 June 2024)

Managerial history edit

References edit

  1. ^ Honra: Moreirense sobe à Liga (Second Division: Moreirense promotes to top division); Mais Futebol, 13 May 2012 (in Portuguese)
  2. ^ "Moreirense é o campeão da II Liga" [Moreirense is the champion of the II Liga] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Moreirense: Vitória histórica para um troféu com 'pouca história'" [Moreirense: Historic victory for a trophy with 'little history'] (in Portuguese). Sapo. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Ivo Vieira é o novo treinador do Vitória de Guimarães" [Ivo Vieira is the new manager of Vitória de Guimarães]. Observador (in Portuguese). 17 June 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Presidente do Moreirense confirma saída de Sá Pinto: "Tinha contrato até 31 de maio"" [President of Moreirense confirms exit of Sá Pinto: "He had a contract until 31 May"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 1 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Quatro recordes alcançados na 34.ª e última jornada da Liga SABSEG" [Four records achieved on the 34th and last matchday of the Liga SABSEG]. Record (in Portuguese). 31 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  7. ^ Costa, Ricardo Jorge (11 May 2023). "II Liga: Paulo Alves deixa Moreirense no final da época" [II Liga: Paulo Alves leaving Moreirense at the end of the season] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Plantel Principal" (in Portuguese). Moreirense FC.

External links edit