The 2019–20 LigaPro was the 30th season of Portuguese football's second-tier league, and the sixth season under the current LigaPro title. A total of 18 teams competed in this division, including reserve sides from top-flight Primeira Liga teams.
On 12 March 2020, the LPFP suspended the league until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal. On 5 May, the LPFP announced the league would be abandoned, with Farense and Nacional being promoted to the Primeira Liga, while Casa Pia and Cova da Piedade would be relegated to the Campeonato de Portugal in 2020–21. On 29 July, the Portuguese Football Federation announced that the 2019–20 Primeira Liga teams Vitória de Setúbal and Aves would be punished with direct relegation to the Campeonato de Portugal, after failing to provide valid licensing documentation to compete in the professional leagues. As a result, Cova da Piedade and Casa Pia were spared from relegation and allowed to compete in the 2020–21 LigaPro season.
Teams A total of 18 teams contest the league, including 13 sides from the 2018–19 season, 3 teams relegated from the 2018–19 Primeira Liga and 2 promoted from the 2018–19 Campeonato de Portugal.
Team changes
Relegated from 2018–19 Primeira Liga Chaves Nacional Feirense
Promoted from 2018–19 Campeonato de Portugal Casa Pia Vilafranquense
Promoted to 2019–20 Primeira Liga Paços de Ferreira Famalicão
Relegated to 2019–20 Campeonato de Portugal Arouca Braga B Vitória de Guimarães B
Stadium and locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity 2018–19 finish Académica Coimbra Estádio Cidade de Coimbra 29,744 5th Académico de Viseu Viseu Estádio do Fontelo 7,744 11th Benfica B Seixal Benfica Campus 2,720 4th Casa Pia Lisbon Estádio Pina Manique 1,600 1st (CP) Chaves Chaves Estádio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira 8,400 16th (PL) Cova da Piedade Cova da Piedade Estádio Municipal José Martins Vieira 2,230 13th Estoril Estoril Estádio António Coimbra da Mota 8,015 3rd Farense Faro Estádio de São Luís 7,000 10th Feirense Santa Maria da Feira Estádio Marcolino de Castro 5,401 18th (PL) Leixões Matosinhos Estádio do Mar 9,766 7th Mafra Mafra Estádio Municipal de Mafra 1,257 14th Nacional Funchal Estádio da Madeira 5,132 17th (PL) Oliveirense Oliveira de Azeméis Estádio Municipal de Aveiro 30,130 12th Penafiel Penafiel Estádio Municipal 25 de Abril 5,230 8th Porto B Vila Nova de Gaia Estádio Municipal Jorge Sampaio 8,272 9th Sp. Covilhã Covilhã Estádio Municipal José dos Santos Pinto 3,500 6th Varzim Póvoa de Varzim Estádio do Varzim SC 7,280 15th Vilafranquense Vila Franca de Xira Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior 6,500 2nd (CP)
Personnel and sponsors Team Head coach Kit manufacturer Sponsors Académica César Peixoto Claw EFAPEL Académico de Viseu Rui Borges Macron Palácio do Gelo Benfica B Renato Paiva Adidas Emirates Casa Pia Luís Loureiro Macron Chaves José Mota Lacatoni Museu do Pão Cova da Piedade Jorge Casquilha Lacatoni Estoril Tiago Fernandes Capelli Sport EuroBic Farense Sérgio Vieira Hummel MEO Feirense Filipe Martins Legea Castro Electrónica Leixões Carlos Pinto Luanvi Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos Mafra Vasco Seabra Lacatoni Nacional Luís Freire Hummel Santander Totta Oliveirense Pedro Miguel Rakso Simoldes Penafiel Miguel Leal Macron Restradas Porto B Rui Barros New Balance Sp. Covilhã Ricardo Soares Lacatoni Natura / MB Hotels Varzim Paulo Alves Stadio Carnes São José Vilafranquense Filipe Moreira Adidas
Season summary
League table
Awards Monthly awards MonthPlayer of the MonthGoal of the MonthReferencePlayerClubPlayerClub August Adriano Castanheira Sp. Covilhã Umaro Embaló Benfica B September Daniel Bragança Estoril Miguel Bandarra Farense October/November Fabrício Isidoro Farense Kikas Casa Pia December Levi Lumeka Varzim Miguel Bandarra Farense January Kukula Sp. Covilhã Leonardo Ruiz Varzim February Agdon Oliveirense Rodrigo Dantas Casa Pia
Annual awards Annual awards were given on 28 August 2020. Award Winner Club Player of the Season Ryan Gauld Farense Manager of the Season Joaquim Rodrigues Nacional Goal of the Season Rodrigo Dantas Casa Pia Young Player of the Season Daniel Bragança Estoril Top goalscorer Agdon Oliveirense Goalkeeper of the Season Daniel Guimarães Nacional Player Fair-Play Prize Zé Tiago Mafra Club Fair-Play Prize Casa Pia Turf of the Season Benfica B
Number of teams by district RankDistrict Football AssociationsNumber Teams1 Lisbon5Benfica B, Casa Pia, Estoril, Mafra and Vilafranquense2 Porto4Leixões, Penafiel, Porto B and Varzim3 Aveiro 2Feirense and Oliveirense4 Castelo Branco 1Sp. Covilhã Coimbra Académica Faro Farense FunchalNacional Setúbal Cova da Piedade Vila Real Chaves Viseu Académico de Viseu
References