União de Leiria
Full nameUnião Desportiva de Leiria
Nickname(s)Os Lis
(The ones from the Lis river)
Founded6 June 1966 (1966-06-06)
GroundEstádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa
Capacity23,888
ChairmanArmando Marques
ManagerVasco Botelho da Costa
LeagueLiga Portugal 2
2022–23Liga 3: (champions) Promoted

União Desportiva de Leiria, commonly known as União de Leiria (pronounced [uniˈɐ̃w dɨ lɐjˈɾiɐ]), is a Portuguese football club based in Leiria. Founded on 6 June 1966, it currently plays in the Liga Portugal 2, holding home matches at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, with a 23,888-seat capacity.

History

Leiria's biggest rivals in Portugal are S.C. Beira-Mar, Associação Naval 1º de Maio and Académica de Coimbra, which belong to the same geographical region. In 1979–80, the club first competed in the top division, finishing in 13th position and being the first team inside the relegation zone.

A heavy contender in the battle to reach European competitions in the 2000s, the club was relegated in 2007–08 to the second level, after finishing last. The team would be immediately promoted back, coming in second after champions S.C. Olhanense.

On 23 August 2004, União de Leiria reached the UEFA Intertoto Cup final with Lille. After getting a 0–0 in France in the first leg, the whole city thought it would be possible for the club to win a European competition. However, in the second leg, after another 0–0 draw at their home stadium, the team would lose the game in extra time by 0–2, mostly due to the excessive fatigue. For the history, it was the first Portuguese team to reach the final of this competition.

The 2011–12 season was lived amongst serious financial difficulties, with the squad not being paid their wages for several months,[1][2] as three coaching moves also happened during the campaign[3][4] and president João Bartolomeu resigned amongst accusations of ingratitude towards the players.[5] On 29 April 2012, after most of the squad rescinded their contracts, only eight players took the pitch for the league match at home against C.D. Feirense in an eventual 0–4 home loss.[6][7] The side played the last two matches, against S.L. Benfica and C.D. Nacional, with a complete team, but three players came from the juniors.[8][9]

After failing to meet the deadline to register the team in Division Two, Leiria were automatically relegated to the third level.[10] Overwhelmed with the task of rebuilding a squad from scratch, the organization hired several players in an attempt to return to the professionals,[11][12][13] as a second senior team also begun competing in the Leiria regional leagues, coached by former club player Luís Bilro.[14] On 28 June 2013, the UD Leiria SAD was declared bankrupt in a meeting of creditors, which demanded the payment of a debt amounting to €13.5 million, with the Portuguese state abstaining for demanding a debt of over €3.6 million.[15] The second senior team that competed in the regional league took the place of the SAD by buying their sports rights for €1,000, with the club returning to the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa after playing their home matches at other grounds for two seasons.[16][17]

In February 2015, at an extraordinary general assembly, UD Leiria would vote for the creation of another SAD, opening doors to the arrival of Alexander Tolstikov, who after João Bartolomeu would become the new "Lord" of Leiria. The club would have already had a SAD between 1999 and 2013, having been extinguished in the face of its high debt value. The SAD's initial share capital is 40% owned by UD Leiria and 60% owned by DS Investment LLP, of which Alexander Tolstikov is one of those responsible. Thus, DS Investment started to control the main Football team and also the junior team.

Currently, the club is competing in the Liga 3 (National Third Division).

Players

Current squad

As of 3 January 2024[18]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Poland POL Pawel Kieszek
2 DF Portugal POR Tiago Ferreira
3 DF Russia RUS Vitali Lystsov
4 DF Portugal POR Bura
5 MF Cape Verde CPV Babanco
6 DF Portugal POR Marco Baixinho
7 FW Portugal POR Leandro Antunes
8 FW Portugal POR Arsénio
10 MF Netherlands NED Jordan van der Gaag
11 FW Brazil BRA Jair Silva
14 DF Portugal POR Pedro Empis
15 DF Portugal POR Kaká
16 DF Cape Verde CPV Cuca
17 MF Argentina ARG Lucho Vega
19 MF Portugal POR Afonso Valente
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 FW Portugal POR João Resende
21 MF Portugal POR Leandro Silva
22 DF Brazil BRA Valdir
24 DF Ivory Coast CIV Zié Ouattara
25 MF Portugal POR Diogo Amado (captain)
29 GK Portugal POR Fábio Ferreira
30 FW Portugal POR Sérgio Ribeiro
35 FW Honduras HON Bryan Róchez (on loan from Portimonense)
42 MF Ivory Coast CIV Dje D'avilla
45 MF Portugal POR Gonçalo Batalha
47 GK Portugal POR João Oliveira
55 MF Ghana GHA Joseph Amoah
72 DF Portugal POR Vasco Oliveira
77 FW Portugal POR Martim Ribeiro
90 FW Ghana GHA Paul Ayongo

On loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
88 MF Ukraine UKR Vladyslav Kobylyanskyi (at Oliveira do Hospital until 30 June 2024)
— MF Portugal POR Diogo Leitão (at Atlético CP until 30 June 2024)

League and cup history

Season I II III IV V Pts MP W D L GF GA +/- Taça de Portugal
2022-2023 1 62 pts 28 20 2 6 57 26 +31 1/64 final
2021-2022 4 58 pts 28 17 7 4 47 23 +24 1/32 final
2020-2021 4 54 pts 27 16 6 5 41 19 +22 1/16 final
2019-2020 12 29 pts 25 6 11 8 27 24 +3 1/64 final
2018-2019 3 75 pts 34 24 3 7 59 24 +35 1/64 final
2017-2018 3 73 pts 30 23 4 3 68 21 +47 1/16 final
2016-2017 3 71 pts 32 22 5 5 56 19 +37 1/32 final
2015-2016 5 64 pts 32 18 10 4 52 21 +31 1/64 final
2014-2015 3 55 pts 30 16 7 7 57 35 +22 1/64 final
2013-2014359 pts3217874333+101/32 final
2012-2013746 pts30137103631+51/16 final
2011-20121619 pts3054212556-311/32 final
2010-20111035 pts3098132538-131/32 final
2009-20101035 pts3098133541-61/16 final
2008-2009254 pts3015964629+171/32 final
2007-20081616 pts3037202553-281/16 final
2006-2007741 pts30101192426-21/16 final
2005-2006747 pts34138134442+21/32 final
2004-20051538 pts34814122936-71/16 final
2003-20041045 pts341112114345-21/8 final
2002-2003549 pts341310114947+2Final
2001-2002755 pts34151095235+171/32 final
2000-2001556 pts34151184641+51/16 final
1999-20001042 pts341012123135-41/16 final
1998-1999652 pts341410103629+71/8 final
1997-1998170 pts34201047332+411/2 final
1996-19971730 pts3486202553-281/32 final
1995-1996747 pts34135153850-121/2 final
1994-1995636 pts341310114144-31/16 final
1993-1994245 pts3419784619+271/32 final
1992-1993834 pts34138133637-11/16 final
1991-1992835 pts34139123432+21/32 final
1990-1991941 pts381413114535+101/32 final
1989-1990349 pts3420956118+431/32 final
1988-19891031 pts34913124244-21/64 final
1987-1988447 pts38181196443+211/8 final
1986-19871227 pts30107132839-111/64 final
1985-1986928 pts30108123349-161/64 final
1984-1985241 pts3017764227+251/64 final
1983-1984928 pts30108123525+101/64 final
1982-1983344 pts30171034417+271/64 final
1981-19821620 pts3084182550-251/16 final
1980-1981145 pts3019745621+351/8 final
1979-19801321 pts3069152649-231/32 final
1978-1979146 pts3020645620+361/64 final
1977-1978830 pts30118113442-81/16 final
1976-19771128 pts30108122631-51/64 final
1975-19761634 pts381112154252-101/16 final
1974-19751334 pts381210165056-61/128 final
1973-1974741 pts38169135249+31/64 final
1972-1973539 pts3017585027+231/32 final
1971-1972335 pts3014795029+211/16 final
1970-1971330 pts2611874034+61/64 final
1969-1970148 pts3020827016+541/128 final
1968-1969231 pts2215165420+341/32 final
1967-1968212 pts10523159+6-
1966-1967116 pts10721219+12-
I - 1.ª Liga; II - 2.ª Liga; III - Campeonato Nacional de Séniores/Liga 3; IV - AF Leiria - Divisão de Honra/Campeonato Nacional de Séniores; V - AF Leiria 1ª Divisão/AF Leiria - Divisão de Honra;

Honours

Stadium

Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa

The Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa was built for UEFA Euro 2004 in 2003, hosting during the competition Croatia's matches against Switzerland (0–0) and France (2–2). It also hosted the 2006 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira final between FC Porto and Vitória de Setúbal, as well as the following (Sporting CP 1–0 Porto).

The architect who designed the stadium was Tomás Taveira, who also designed stadiums for Euro 2004, including Beira-Mar's Estádio Municipal de Aveiro and Sporting CP's Estádio José Alvalade. The grounds belong to the municipality of Leiria.

Due to an excessive rent, Leiria relocated to the Estádio Municipal in the nearby town of Marinha Grande, for 2011–12. For the following season, the club moved to Campo da Portela in Santa Catarina da Serra, home of U.D. Serra.[20]

After the SAD bankruptcy, the club returned to play its home matches at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa.

Managers

José Mourinho was club manager in 2001–02, his exploits there leading to a Porto move.

Fans

União's fans are called Leirienses, and their main group of supporters is Armata Ultra ("Armata Ultra").

See also

References

  1. ↑ João Bartolomeu: "Se não conseguirmos pagar aos jogadores, paciência" (João Bartolomeu: "If we can't pay the players, tough luck") Archived 2015-04-27 at the Wayback Machine; Relvado, 9 December 2011 (in Portuguese)
  2. ↑ Presidente da SAD confirma ordenados em atraso e saída do diretor geral (Chairman confirms due wages and departure of general manager); SAPO Desporto, 9 December 2011 (in Portuguese)
  3. ↑ Uniao de Leiria swap coaches... again Archived November 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine; PortuGOAL, 26 September 2011
  4. ↑ Cajuda out, Dominguez in at Leiria; PortuGOAL, 14 March 2012
  5. ↑ João Bartolomeu demitiu-se: "São 25 anos a aturar isto" (João Bartolomeu resigned: "It's 25 years putting up with this"); Diário de Notícias, 13 April 2012 (in Portuguese)
  6. ↑ Vieira, Dominic. "União de Leiria, the first club to play a 4–3–0". About a Football Report. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  7. ↑ Situação leiriense correu o Mundo (Leiriense plight talked abroad) Archived 2012-05-02 at the Wayback Machine; Record, 30 April 2012 (in Portuguese)
  8. ↑ Benfica-U. Leiria, 1–0 (crónica) (Benfica-U. Leiria, 1–0 (report)); Mais Futebol, 5 May 2012 (in Portuguese)
  9. ↑ U. Leiria-Nacional, 2–3 (destaques) (U. Leiria-Nacional, 2–3 (highlights)); Mais Futebol, 12 May 2012 (in Portuguese)
  10. ↑ U.Leiria fora dos Campeonatos profissionais (U. Leiria out of professional competitions) Archived 2012-09-03 at the Wayback Machine; Record, 25 May 2012 (in Portuguese)
  11. ↑ Reforços para Leiria SAD (Reinforcements for Leiria SAD); O Derbie, 7 August 2012 (in Portuguese)
  12. ↑ Duo no Leiria (Duo joins Leiria); O Derbie, 25 August 2012 (in Portuguese)
  13. ↑ Clube chegou a acordo com o treinador Ricardo Moura (Club reaches agreement with coach Ricardo Moura); SAPO Desporto, 24 July 2012 (in Portuguese)
  14. ↑ Clube inscreve equipa nas distritais (Club signs team in regional divisions) Archived 2012-06-22 at the Wayback Machine; SAPO Desporto, 19 June 2012 (in Portuguese)
  15. ↑ "Abstenção do Estado decisiva para liquidação da SAD da União de Leiria" [State abstention decisive in the bankruptcy of SAD]. desporto.sapo.pt. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "SAD declara insolvência e clube sobe ao Nacional de Séniores" [SAD declares bankruptcy and club climbs to Campeonato Nacional]. rr.sapo.pt. 18 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "União de Leiria garante direitos desportivos da SAD por mil euros" [União de Leiria assures sports rights from SAD for 1000 euros]. agentedesportivo.com. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "Plantel" (in Portuguese). UD Leiria.
  19. ↑ The UEFA Intertoto Cup: Past Winners. Listed are all 11 teams that won the Intertoto Cup, qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
  20. ↑ U. Leiria SAD jogará no Campo da Portela (U. Leiria SAD will play in Campo da Portela); O Derbie, 1 August 2012 (in Portuguese)
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