 | |||
| Full name | Gil Vicente Futebol Clube | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | Gilistas (Gilists/Followers of Gil) Galos (Roosters) | ||
| Founded | 3 May 1924; 101 years ago (3 May 1924) | ||
| Ground | Estádio Cidade de Barcelos | ||
| Capacity | 12,046 | ||
| Chairman | Avelino Dias da Silva | ||
| Manager | César Peixoto | ||
| League | Primeira Liga | ||
| 2024–25 | Primeira Liga, 13th of 18 | ||
| Website | gilvicentefc | ||
 Current season | |||
Gil Vicente Futebol Clube (Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈʒilviˈsẽtɨ]), commonly known asGil Vicente, founded in 1924, is a Portuguese professionalfootball club that plays inBarcelos.[1] It plays their home matches at theEstádio Cidade de Barcelos. It competes in thePrimeira Liga, the top division of football in the country, and it is named after Portuguese playwrightGil Vicente.
The club's founding occurred near the city's theater named after playwright Vicente. It first played in Primeira Liga in1990-91. Since then, the team has been relegated to the second tier three times, having won back promotion twice by winning theSegunda Liga and once by administrative decision. The highest league finishes were two fifth-places in1999–2000 and2021–22. A women's football team was created for the 2018-19 season. The team has participated in thetop tier, and currently has played six straight seasons in it.
Gil Vicente Futebol Clube was founded on 3 May 1924, after the creation of other short-lived clubs in Barcelos, such as Barcellos Sporting Club and União Foot-ball Club Barcellense.[2]: 11 A group of friends who would gather in the theater square (Largo do Teatro, currentlyLargo Doutor Martins Lima), naming the club after the theater, itself named after thePortuguese playwright.[citation needed] The initial name of the club wasGil Vicente Football Barcelense, including a mention of its city that was lost through time.[citation needed] Despite the foundation in 1924, only in 1931 did the club register in theBraga Football Association, participating in the following year in the district league after the city cup against Barcelos Sporting Club.[2]: 21–28
In 1943 (possibly 1953[2]: 50 ), the club is promoted to the Second Division, and one year later stops participating in the regional championship to play in a national league starting.[3][citation needed]
The first record of a game abroad is in April 1953 againstTuy Racing Club.[2]: 50
Gil Vicente achieved a club record semi-final in thePortuguese Cup in 1976–77, losing againstS.C. Braga only after a replay match. In the following edition, the club reached the quarter-finals, losing againstFC Porto.[citation needed]
In the 1980s Gil Vicente improved and reached two third places in the North section of the second division. In1989–90 Segunda Divisão, led byRodolfo Reis,[citation needed] the team finally achieved promotion to the top tier, winning the North Zone and obtaining a second place in the championship-playoff againstSalgueiros andFarense. Despite the success, the season is marked by a controversial decision. An electrical failure in an away match atMaia during a 2–0 Gil Vicente lead with 16 minutes left led to the game being interrupted. ThePortuguese Football Federation first awards Gil Vicente a 3–0 win and fines Maia, but the decision would later be changed and the clubs were ordered to repeat the entire match, something which the club claims was inconsistent with another decision in the same year.[3]
In1990-91, the first season in the top tier, Gil Vicente narrowly avoided relegation. There were 20 participants, with 5 relegation spots, due to a planned decreased to 18 clubs. Gil Vicente finished 13-th with 33 points, the same as relegatedTirsense. The compactEstádio Adelino Ribeiro Novo proved to be a tough spot for visitors, as only championsS.L. Benfica and runner-upsFC Porto able to win.
For1991-92, the club hired former FC Porto andSporting CP legendAntónio Oliveira as a manager. The club finished 13th again, 2 points clear of relegation. Relegation was avoided with a 1–0 win over already-crowned champions FC Porto with a goal scored byMorato.[citation needed] Another highlight was reaching the quarter-finals of the Cup, losing toBoavista 1–0 at home.[citation needed]
Vítor Oliveira was hired to managed the team for the1992-93 campaign. Gil Vicente had a tough start, losing three of the first four matches, including a 7–1 thrashing atMarítimo. The season recovered and the team went on to take a home win and an away draw against eventual third-placed Sporting CP and a home draw against runner-ups S.L. Benfica.[citation needed] The team finished a club record ninth, 3 points clear of relegation.Ljubinko Drulović was the team's star, scoring 10 goals.[citation needed] He would be transferred to Porto in the Winter of the following season, featuring in all of the teams who won the historic five consecutive league titles.
Oliveira was kept for the following two campaigns. In1993-94, Gil Vicente finished tenth, 5 points of relegation. Highlights include one away and two home draws against the eventual top 3 teams. Home games were again a team strength, with only Porto and Benfica achieving fewer than 2 losses. In1994-95, the team struggled more. It achieved only 7 wins, tied for third-worst in the league. Despite this, its league-leading 13 draws were enough to secure 13th, 3 points clear of relegation.[citation needed] Surprisingly, two of the seven wins came against runner-ups Benfica, both 1–0. The home win was ensured with a stoppage penalty scored byTuck while the away win goal was scored byCongolese striker Makopoloka Mangonga.[citation needed]
For1995-96, the club hired managerBernardino Pedroto. The team struggled early, with only 4 points in the first 7 games in the first season where a win was worth 3 points. The form recovered and three well-time consecutive March wins helped achieve 12th place, 3 points clear of relegation. This was the season where hometown playerCarlitos established himself in the first teamm, playing 33 league games and scoring 5 goals, both team-leading statistics.[citation needed]
The1996-97 was disastrous and the team finished bottom of the league with 19 points, 11 points behind the closest opponent. Pedroto was replaced after the a 1–0 away loss againstEspinho in December, achieving only 4 points in the first 12 games.[citation needed] Incoming managerFernando Festas achieved only one win before being replaced in March after a 4–1 away loss againstChaves. Assistant coach José Marconi led the team until the end of the season, taking two wins in the last 10 games, but coaching the team through its worst defeat in the top tier: a 7–0 away loss atBoavista.[citation needed]
In1997-98, Henrique Nunes was hired to manage the team. Gil Vicente achieved the fourth position in the league, 2 points behind promotedAlverca. The club actually celebrated promotion at one point, as Alverca were asatellite club ofS.L. Benfica, and thus forbidden from promotion to the top tier according to the relegation. As the season approached, Alverca, at the time led by future S.L. Benfica chairmanLuís Filipe Vieira asked to be removed of the satellite status a few weeks before the end of the season. The request was approved by thePortuguese Football Federation and Gil Vicente would remain in the second tier for another season despite a court appeal.[4]
In1998-99 Gil Vicente finally obtained its first national silverware. The team won the Second Division with 68 points, 7 points clear of second place. Led byÁlvaro Magalhães and with goal scoring forwardsAlmami Moreira and Diocleciano Tavares, both with 12 goals, the team also had a highlight 3–2 home win againstSporting CP in the fourth round of thePortuguese Cup. The club celebrated the promotion and its 75th birthday with a friendly against S.L. Benfica in June 1999.[5]
Magalhães remained at the helm as Gil Vicente obtained a club record Primeira Liga fifth place in the1999–2000 season, which would have been enough for aUEFA Cup spot in the previous season. The team was also a protagonist of the last matchday. Already out of contention for the fourth place, the team hostedFC Porto, who was 1 point behind leaders Sporting CP, who were on a 18-year spell without a league title.[citation needed] Gil Vicente beat FC Porto 2–1 with goals by Lemos,Carlitos and former playerDrulović.[citation needed]
In the following two seasons, the club returned to more typical league finishes in the bottom half of the table.Vítor Oliveira returned to manage the club in December 2001, taking over the job ofLuís Campos. In the2002-03 season the team achieved eighth place with 44 points. The season included 2 wins against Sporting, including a 3–0 away win atEstádio José Alvalade, with goals fromManoel, Gaspar, andPaulo Alves.[citation needed] In February 2003,Luís Loureiro became the first squad player to be receive a call up to thePortugal national football team.[6]
In the following two seasons, Gil Vicente achieved consecutive 12th and 13th places, with 40 points, both seasons marked by coaching changes: from Mário Reis to Luís Campos and then toUlisses Morais.
In the2005–06 Primeira Liga, Gil Vicente fielded an ineligible player being Angolan forwardMateus in the "Mateus Affair". They therefore lost the right to participate in the2006–07 Primeira Liga, andBelenenses were allowed to stay up.[7] Gil Vicente were accused by the special sports instances that rule Portuguese football of illegally resorting to regular courts on the dispute of Mateus, according to Gil Vicente, illegal contract with his former employer,FC Lixa.[8]
Still convinced this is not a sports-related case but rather work-related, Gil Vicente continued in the courts.[9] Along with the relegation, they were also suspended from theTaça de Portugal for one season.[10]
On 29 May 2011, the club returned to the top flight as champions of the2010–11 Liga de Honra with a 3–1 home win overC.D. Fátima in front of a club record crowd; manager Paulo Alves beatC.D. Feirense on goal difference to the title, and the key players were strikersHugo Vieira andZé Luís.[11] The club finished as runners-up of the2011–12 Taça da Liga, eliminating Sporting CP from the groups,S.C. Braga on penalties in the semi-final and losing 2–1 to S.L. Benfica in thefinal inCoimbra.[12]
A four-year spell in the top flight ended in2014–15, when Gil Vicente lost 2–1 atF.C. Penafiel in the penultimate round of matches.[13] On 29 April 2018, the club slipped into the third tier for the first time since 1971, but had a place in the2019–20 Primeira Liga secured as a result of the appeal against the "Matheus Affair".[14] On May 8, 2022, Gil Vicente qualified for a European competition,UEFA Europa Conference League, for the first time in their history, after finishing fifth in the2021–22 Primeira Liga season.
While today only the football section exists, Gil Vicente has had aroller hockey team, and athletes representing the club incycling andpedestrianism.[2]: 39, 50
The clubs that preceded Gil Vicente had their first games inCampo da Feira and inCampo Dom Carlos (today'sCampo 25 de Abril). União Foot-ball Club Barcelense had its first field in Campo da Granja, next to the city's cemetery, playing its first game on April 30, 1922, against DesportivoFamalicense, 3 days before the official inauguration during the city festival (Festa das Cruzes) with a game betweenFC Porto andSC Salgueiros. Eleven years later, in May 1933, with the decline of its rival club, Gil Vicente took over the field.[2]: 13 The first struggles of the young team were mainly about finding apitch to play. Back then, the team would play in theCampo da Estação (Station Field), which belonged to another club, Triunfo Sport Club. On 3 May 1933, Gil Vicente played on its first field, Campo da Granja, against neighboursS.C. Braga.[citation needed]
On 16 September 1945, goalkeeper Adelino Ribeiro Novo died in Campo da Granja after a collision with an opponent during a match againstCD Aves. In January 1946, the field wasrenamed after him as a tribute.[2]: 46 On 8 November 1987, the city donated the stadium to Gil Vicente and the club inaugurates its new headquarters.[15] It currently hosts the clubs youth squads, as well as training sessions and friendly games.[citation needed]
In 1992, the city bought land in the parish ofVila Boa, Barcelos to build a new stadium. Construction for the newEstádio Cidade de Barcelos began in 2001 and in 2002 the first stand was built. The stadium cost 22 million euro.[16][17] The stadium was inaugurated on 30 May 2004 with a friendly between Gil Vicente and Uruguyan clubClub Nacional de Football, ending with a 2–1 loss for the home team, with goals byO.J. Morales,Chory Castro, andPaulo Alves. The first official match was a 0–1 loss againstBoavista F.C. on 10 September 2004, withZé Manel scoring the first official goal. The first Gil Vicente win came two weeks later on September 26, with a 3–1 win overMoreirense F.C., with hometown playerCarlitos scoring the first official goal for Gil Vicente in the new stadium. Since then, the Cidade de Barcelos has hosted a friendly game between thePortugal andCanada, as well as 2 group stage games of theUEFA Under-21 European Championship. In 2022, the city contracted the construction of two training pitches adjacent to the stadium for 2.3 million Euro, one grass and anotherartificial turf, which were completed in 2024.[18][19]
The club's first kit was red. Later kits were green and white horizontally striped, yellow and red (colours of the city), and blue.[2]: 33 The club's modern main kit is usually red, while alternative kits vary, but are usually blue and white.
| Season | Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Cup | League Cup | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–90 | 2D | 1 | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 51 | 25 | 49 | Round 5 | Promoted | |
| 1990–91 | 1D | 13 | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 34 | 46 | 33 | Round 5 | ||
| 1991–92 | 1D | 13 | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 26 | 42 | 29 | Quarter-finals | ||
| 1992–93 | 1D | 9 | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 34 | 42 | 31 | Round 4 | ||
| 1993–94 | 1D | 10 | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 27 | 47 | 31 | Round 4 | ||
| 1994–95 | 1D | 13 | 34 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 30 | 40 | 27 | Round 4 | ||
| 1995–96 | 1D | 12 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 31 | 49 | 36 | Round 4 | ||
| 1996–97 | 1D | 18 | 34 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 29 | 74 | 19 | Round 4 | Relegated | |
| 1997–98 | 2H | 4 | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 44 | 23 | 60 | Quarter-finals | ||
| 1998–99 | 2H | 1 | 34 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 58 | 24 | 68 | Quarter-finals | Promoted | |
| 1999–00 | 1D | 5 | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 48 | 34 | 53 | Quarter-finals | ||
| 2000–01 | 1D | 14 | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 34 | 41 | 37 | Quarter-finals | ||
| 2001–02 | 1D | 12 | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 42 | 56 | 38 | Round 4 | ||
| 2002–03 | 1D | 8 | 34 | 13 | 5 | 16 | 42 | 53 | 44 | Round 5 | ||
| 2003–04 | 1D | 12 | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 43 | 40 | 40 | Round 4 | ||
| 2004–05 | 1D | 13 | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 34 | 40 | 40 | Round 4 | ||
| 2005–06 | 1D | 12 | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 37 | 42 | 40 | Round 4 | ||
| 2006–07 | 2H | 12 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 27 | 27 | 36 | |||
| 2007–08 | 2H | 4 | 30 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 43 | 34 | 50 | Quarter-finals | Round 1 | |
| 2008–09 | 2H | 9 | 30 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 36 | 37 | 38 | Quarter-finals | Second Group Stage | |
| 2009–10 | 2H | 10 | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 36 | 32 | 38 | Round 4 | First Group Stage | |
| 2010–11 | 2H | 1 | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 55 | 38 | 55 | Round 3 | Second Group Stage | Promoted |
| 2011–12 | 1D | 9 | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 31 | 42 | 34 | Round 3 | Runners-up | |
| 2012–13 | 1D | 13 | 30 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 31 | 54 | 25 | Quarter-finals | Second round | |
| 2013–14 | 1D | 13 | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 23 | 37 | 31 | Fifth round | Third round | |
| 2014–15 | 1D | 17 | 34 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 25 | 60 | 23 | Quarter-finals | Third round | Relegated |
| 2015–16 | 2H | 11 | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 58 | 56 | 62 | Semi-finals | First round | |
| 2016–17 | 2H | 13 | 42 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 47 | 49 | 56 | Third round | Second round | |
| 2017–18 | 2H | 19 | 38 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 29 | 45 | 36 | Second round | Second round | Relegated |
| 2018–19 | CP | 10 | 34 | 22 | 4 | 8 | — | — | — | Second round | Court ordered promotion to Primeira Liga | |
| 2019–20 | 1D | 10 | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 40 | 44 | 43 | Fourth round | Group Stage | |
| 2020–21 | 1D | 11 | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 33 | 42 | 39 | Quarter-finals | ||
| 2021–22 | 1D | 5 | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 47 | 42 | 48 | Fourth round | Second round | |
| 2022–23 | 1D | 13 | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 32 | 41 | 37 | Fourth round | Quarter-finals | UEFA Europa Conference League Play-off round |
| 2023–24 | 1D | 12 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 42 | 52 | 36 | Quarter-finals | First round |
Last updated: 17 July 2012
Div. = Division;1D =Portuguese League;2H =Liga de Honra;2D =Portuguese Second Division;CP =Campeonato de Portugal
| Year | Tournament | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | UEFA Europa Conference League | Third Qualification round |  Riga FC | 4–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Playoff round |  AZ Alkmaar | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–6 |
Correct as of 21 May 2025.[20]
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 128 |  HJK Helsinki | 12.500 |
| 129 |  F.C. Arouca | 12.453 |
| 130 | Gil Vicente F.C. | 12.453 |
| 131 | C.D. Santa Clara | 12.453 |
| 132 | F.C. Paços de Ferreira | 12.453 |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Global Sports Director | Pedro Albergaria |
| Director of Football | Manuel Ribeiro |
| Manager | Tozé Marreco |
| Assistant Manager |  Sá Pereira |
| First-Team Coach | Rui SantosTiago Sousa |
| Goalkeeping Coach | César Gomes |
| Conditioning Coach | José Barbosa |
| Athletic Coach | José Mário Rocha |
| Match Analyst | Rafael Vieira |
Source:[citation needed]
Player currently in the squad.
| GK | Goalkeeper |
|---|---|
| DF | Defender |
| MF | Midfielder |
| FW | Forward |
| Name | Nationality | Position | Gil Vicente Primeira Liga record[A] | Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasons | Apps | Goals | ||||
| Paulo Jorge |  | GK | 1999–2006 | 200 | 0 | Best result (5th, 1999–2000) 1998-99 Second division champion |
| Tuck | | MF | 1990–1997 | 187 | 11 | |
| Jorge Casquilha | | MF | 1999–2005 | 176 | 11 | Best result (5th, 1999–2000) 1998-99 Second division champion |
| Miguel | | DF | 1991–1997 | 164 | 9 | |
| Rúben Fernandes | | DF | 2019– | 151 | 4 | Best result (5th, 2021–2022) Played in the2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League |
| Lemos |  | DF | 1994–1997 1999–2002 | 149 | 8 | Best result (5th, 1999–2000) |
| Carlitos | | MF | 1994–1997 1999–2000 2004–2006 | 141 | 23 | Best result (5th, 1999–2000) |
| Mangonga |  | FW | 1990–1995 | 132 | 27 | Club former record top flight goalscorer |
| Kanya Fujimoto |  | MF | 2020- | 132 | 7 | Best result (5th, 2021–2022) Played in the2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League |
| Adriano Facchini | | GK | 2011–2015 | 119 | 0 | 2011–12 League Cup finalist |
| Luís Coentrão | | MF | 2002–2006 | 118 | 7 | |
| Fernando Rosado | | MF | 1990–1994 | 115 | 6 | |
| Paulo Alves | | FW | 1990–1991 2001–2005 | 111 | 28 | Club former record top flight goalscorer 1989 FIFA World Youth Champion |
| Nuno Amaro | | DF | 2000–2005 | 108 | 4 | |
| Nandinho | | FW | 2002–2006 | 104 | 13 | |
| Braíma |  | MF | 2002–2006 | 104 | 2 | |
| Samuel Lino | | FW | 2019–2022 | 87 | 23 | Best result (5th, 2021–2002) |
| Luís Loureiro | | MF | 2001–2004 | 85 | 10 | First Portugal national team cap while club player |
| Wilson | | DF | 1994–1997 | 84 | 2 | 1998-99 Second division champion Played in the1996 African Cup of Nations[1] |
| Hugo Vieira | | FW | 2011–2014 2019–2020 | 67 | 18 | 2011–12 League Cup finalist 2010–11 Second League champion |
| Fran Navarro |  | FW | 2021–2023 | 66 | 33 | Club record top flight goalscorer Best result (5th, 2021–2002) Played in the2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League |
| Manoel | | FW | 2001–2003 | 60 | 15 | |
| Capucho | | MF | 1990–1992 | 50 | 3 | 1991 FIFA World Youth Champion |
| Ljubinko Drulović |  | FW | 1992–1994 | 44 | 17 | |
| Jorge Ribeiro | | DF | 2004–2005 | 14 | 0 | Portugal national team cap while club player |
| Mateus | | FW | 2005–2006 | 4 | 2 | Played in the2006 FIFA World Cup |
José Maria Furtado (1974–75) Vieira Nunes (1 July 1981 –22 March 1982)Professor Neca (1 July 1983 – 30 June 1984)José Carlos (1986–88)Mário Reis (22 November 1988 – 30 June 1989)Rodolfo Reis (1 July 1989 – 30 June 1991)António Oliveira (1 July 1991 – 30 June 1992)Vítor Oliveira (1 July 1992 – 30 June 1995)Bernardino Pedroto (1 July 1995 – 2 December 1996)Fernando Festas (3 December 1996 – 24 March 1997) Marconi (25 March 1997 – 30 June 1997) Henrique Nunes (1 July 1997 – 8 March 1998)Diamantino Miranda (9 March 1998 – 30 June 1998)Álvaro Magalhães (1 July 1998 – 20 November 2000)Luís Campos (20 November 2000 – 23 December 2001)Vítor Oliveira (1 January 2002 – 30 June 2003)Mário Reis (1 July 2003 – 11 November 2003)Luís Campos (25 November 2003 – 28 October 2004)Ulisses Morais (28 October 2004 – 6 March 2006)Paulo Alves (8 March 2006 – 21 May 2008)Professor Neca (26 May 2008 – 17 November 2008) Manuel Ribeiro (18 November 2008 – 16 February 2009)João Eusébio (17 February 2009 – 25 May 2009)Rui Quinta (6 June 2009 – 27 February 2010)Paulo Alves (5 March 2010 –2 1 May 2013)João de Deus (1 July 2013 – 31 August 2014)José Mota (2 September 2014 – 30 June 2015)Nandinho (28 May 2015 – 30 June 2016)Álvaro Magalhães (1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017)Casquilha (1 July 2017 – 28 December 2017)Paulo Alves (28 December 2017 – 23 February 2018)Nandinho (1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019)Vítor Oliveira (1 July 2019 – 2 August 2020)Rui Almeida (3 August 2020 – 11 November 2020)Ricardo Soares (13 November 2020 – 30 June 2022)Ivo Vieira (1 July 2022 – 2 November 2022) Carlos Cunha (3 November 2022 – 15 November 2022)Daniel Sousa (16 November 2022 – 30 June 2023)Vítor Campelos (1 July 2023 – 8 April 2024) Carlos Cunha (9 April 2024 – 12 April 2024)Tozé Marreco (13 April 2024 – 8 August 2024) Carlos Cunha (9 August 2024 – 11 August 2024)Bruno Pinheiro (12 August 2024 – 18 February 2025)| Men's |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's |
| ||||||
| District Associations | |||||||
| Defunct competitions | |||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
