Sporting Clube da Covilhã, commonly known as just Sporting da Covilhã or Sp. Covilhã, is a Portuguese football club from the city of Covilhã that plays in the third-tier Liga 3. The club was founded on 2 June 1923 and became the branch number 8 of Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sporting CP). Their nickname is the Leões da Serra, meaning "Lions of the Mountain Range," due to Covilhã's location in the Serra de Estrela, the highest mountains in Portugal.
Their home ground is Estádio Municipal José dos Santos Pinto, located at approximately 900 m of altitude. However, the team plays also at the newer stadium of Complexo Desportivo da Covilhã, also in Covilhã, which holds a capacity of 3,000 spectators. Their current chairman is Marco Peba and current manager is Francisco Chaló. They have won five Second Division in 1948, 1969, 1987 (second-tier), 2002, and 2005 (third-tier). They have competed in the Portuguese First Division 15 times, and in the Portuguese Second Division 11 times (1948–49, 1958–59, 1986–87, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12).
Players
Current squad
Honours Portuguese Cup – Runners-up (1) – 1956–1957
Managerial history
Vieira Nunes (1985–1988) Félix Mourinho (1989–1990) Vieira Nunes (1995–1996) António Jesus (1996–1997) Vieira Nunes (1997) António Jesus (1999–2000) Henrique Nunes (2000–2001) João Cavalero (2002–2004) Fanã (2004–2005) José Dinis (2005–2006) João Salcedas (2006) Vítor Quinha (2006–2007) Rui França (2007–2008) Álvaro Magalhães (2008) Hélio Sousa (2008–2009) João Eusébio (2009) Nicolau Vaquero (2009–2010) João Salcedas (2010) João Pinto (2010–2011) Tulipa (2011–2012) Nascimento (2012) Filipe Moreira (2012) Fanã (2012–2013) Francisco Chaló (2013–2016) Filipe Gouveia (2016–2017) José Augusto (2017–2018) Dito (2018) Filó (2018–2019) Ricardo Soares (2019) Daúto Faquirá (2019–2020) Capucho (2020–2021) José Bizarro (2021) Wender (2021) Filó (2021) Leonel Pontes (2021–2022) Alex (2022–2024) Francisco Chaló (2024–)
Club anthem De verde e branco, Um dia te embriagaram; De verde engalanaram, Os teus pés. O branco escorreu-te, Das feições, Onde moras, E onde mostras o que és! e Entre os maiores Te sentes piqueno, Mas és na Beira Rico em tradições, Agarra que te vem De seres leão, Já tem feito tremer Os aldeões!
Pelos anos contados, És velhinho, Mas continuas sempre A ser um jovenzinho; D`esperança Traçaram teu carinho, Força e coragem O que te moem, O ar que te embriaga Puro e leve, Te inspira e te dá fecundidade? Que seja lema teu, Por toda a vila A grandeza, leite Gresso, A humidade
League and cup history Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup League CupNotes1948–491D11269215505920Semi Finals1949–501D626105115570251950–511D62613013625326Round 11951–521D62610511355225Quarter Finals1952–531D10267613385420Quarter Finals1953–541D7261088433928Round 11954–551D12268414325320Round 11955–561D5261178524429Round 11956–571D13267415336218Runners-upRelegated1958–591D8269413436522Round 11959–601D9268612324922Round 31960–611D9268513275521Round 11961–621D13266515304817Round 1Relegated1985–861D16305718236117Round 2Relegated1986–872D1–––––––Round 6Promoted1987–881D203851122307021Round 5Relegated1989–902DS103415316394333Round 21990–912DS163461018314722Round 21991–922DS938141113423839Round 3Relegated1992–933DS2342176531949Round 2Promoted1993–942DS163461414354826Round 2Relegated1994–953DS2342275622251Round 2Promoted1995–962DS1342275532473Round 3Promoted1996–972H163491114304138Round 3Relegated1997–982DS2342077672667Round 21998–992DS13419105492767Round 4Promoted1999–20002H183451019234825Round 5Relegated2000–012DS2362394682378Round 32001–022DS13823114642680Round 2Promoted2002–032H1134111211373345Round 62003–042H17348521395529Round 4Relegated2004–052DS13619125613269Round 3Promoted2005–062H1434101212374242Round 5Relegated2006–072DS4261277482543Round 42007–082DS1261745492055Round 3Promoted2008–092H730101010424240Round 3First Group Stage2009–102H14307914354930Round 3First Group Stage2010–112H14309516324832Round 2First Group Stage2011–122H153071112222932Round 4First Group Stage
A. Despite finishing in a relegation position, the club was not relegated due to União de Leiria of the Primeira Liga being relegated to the non-professional tiers of Portugal due to there financial difficulties suffered during the 2011–12 Primeira Liga season.
Last updated: 22 July 2012 Div. = Division; 1D = Portuguese League; 2H = Liga de Honra; 2DS/2D = Portuguese Second Division; 3DS = Terceira Divisão Pos. = Position; Pl = Match played; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lost; GS = Goal scored; GA = Goal against; P = Points
References
External links
Club profile at ForaDeJogo Club profile at LPFP Club profile at NFT