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| Full name | União Desportiva de Leiria |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Os Lis (The ones from the Lis river) |
| Founded | 6 June 1966; 59 years ago (1966-06-06) |
| Ground | Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa |
| Capacity | 23,888 |
| Chairman | Armando Marques |
| Manager | Fábio Pereira |
| League | Liga Portugal 2 |
| 2024–25 | 6th of 18 |
| Website | www |
União Desportiva de Leiria (Portuguese pronunciation:[uniˈɐ̃wdɨlɐjˈɾiɐ]), commonly known asUnião de Leiria, is a Portuguese professionalfootball club based inLeiria. Founded on 6 June 1966, it currently plays in theLiga Portugal 2, holding home matches atEstádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, with a 23,888-seat capacity.
In1979–80, the club first competed in thetop division, finishing in 13th position and being relegated.
On 16 April 2001, the club appointed formerBenfica managerJosé Mourinho on a two-year contract.[1] In January 2002, having taken the team as high as third, he departed forPorto.[2] His successorMário Reis resigned after five games, having lost four, and the team concluded the season in seventh underVítor Pontes.[3]
The club lost the2003 Taça de Portugal final to Mourinho's Porto, with the only goal coming from ex-União de Leiria strikerDerlei.[4] As the northern club had won thedouble of league and cup, União de Leiria were their opponents in the2003 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira on 10 August, with the same scoreline.[5]
União de Leiria reached the2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup final withLille. After goalless draws in France and at home, the team lost 0–2 in extra time on 24 August.[6]Three years later, the club won the same event with a 4–1 second-leg win over Serbia'sHajduk Kula reversing a 1–0 away loss.[7] After defeating Israel'sMaccabi Netanya by a single goal in the qualifying round, the club took onBayer Leverkusen in the first round of theUEFA Cup, losing 5–4 on aggregate with a 3–2 home win in the second leg.[8]
In2007–08, the club was relegated to thesecond level, after finishing last; it was additionally involved in theApito Dourado scandal.[9] The team would be immediatelypromoted back, coming in second after championsOlhanense.[9]
The2011–12 season was lived amongst serious financial difficulties, with the squad not being paid their wages for several months,[10][11] as three coaching moves also happened during the campaign[12][13] and president João Bartolomeu resigned amongst accusations of ingratitude towards the players.[14] On 29 April 2012, after most of the squad rescinded their contracts, only eight players took the pitch for the league match at home againstFeirense in an eventual 0–4 home loss.[15][16] The side played the last two matches, againstBenfica andNacional, with a complete team, but three players came from the juniors.[17][18]After failing to meet the deadline to register the team in Division Two, Leiria were automatically relegated to thethird level.[19] Overwhelmed with the task of rebuilding a squad from scratch, the organization hired several players in an attempt to return to the professionals,[20][21][22] as a second senior team also begun competing in theLeiria regional leagues, coached by former club playerLuís Bilro.[23]On 28 June 2013, the UD LeiriaSAD was declaredbankrupt in a meeting ofcreditors, which demanded the payment of a debt amounting to €13.5 million, with the Portuguese stateabstaining for demanding a debt of over €3.6 million.[24] 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 theEstádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa after playing their home matches at other grounds for two seasons.[25][26]
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.
In October 2020, after a vote at a general meeting, the members approved the entry of a new investor into the club's SAD: Armando Marques, a former director ofVitória de Guimarães. Furthermore, they waived their right of first refusal in the sale of 60% of DS Investment LLP, a company owned by Alexander Tolstikov, leading to their departure from the SAD structure.
In2022–23, the club wonLiga 3 and promotion toLiga Portugal 2. The team defeatedBelenenses 1–0 at theEstádio Nacional to return to professional leagues for the first time since 2012.[27]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Season | I | II | III | IV | V | Pts | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | ± | Taça de Portugal |
| 2024–25 | 6 | 52 pts | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 49 | 37 | +12 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 2023–24 | 12 | 42 pts | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 44 | 40 | +4 | 1/4 final | ||||
| 2022–23 | 1 | 62 pts | 28 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 57 | 26 | +31 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 2021–22 | 4 | 58 pts | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 47 | 23 | +24 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 2020–21 | 4 | 54 pts | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 41 | 19 | +22 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 2019–20 | 12 | 29 pts | 25 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 27 | 24 | +3 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 2018–19 | 3 | 75 pts | 34 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 59 | 24 | +35 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 2017–18 | 3 | 73 pts | 30 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 68 | 21 | +47 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 2016–17 | 3 | 71 pts | 32 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 56 | 19 | +37 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 2015–16 | 5 | 64 pts | 32 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 52 | 21 | +31 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 2014–15 | 3 | 55 pts | 30 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 57 | 35 | +22 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 2013–14 | 3 | 59 pts | 32 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 43 | 33 | +10 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 2012–13 | 7 | 46 pts | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 36 | 31 | +5 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 2011–12 | 16 | 19 pts | 30 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 56 | -31 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 2010–11 | 10 | 35 pts | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 38 | -13 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 2009–10 | 10 | 35 pts | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 35 | 41 | -6 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 2008–09 | 2 | 54 pts | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 46 | 29 | +17 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 2007–08 | 16 | 16 pts | 30 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 25 | 53 | -28 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 2006–07 | 7 | 41 pts | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 24 | 26 | -2 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 2005–06 | 7 | 47 pts | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 2004–05 | 15 | 38 pts | 34 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 29 | 36 | -7 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 2003–04 | 10 | 45 pts | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 43 | 45 | -2 | 1/8 final | ||||
| 2002–03 | 5 | 49 pts | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 49 | 47 | +2 | Final | ||||
| 2001–02 | 7 | 55 pts | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 52 | 35 | +17 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 2000–01 | 5 | 56 pts | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 1999–2000 | 10 | 42 pts | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 31 | 35 | -4 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 1998–99 | 6 | 52 pts | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 36 | 29 | +7 | 1/8 final | ||||
| 1997–98 | 1 | 70 pts | 34 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 73 | 32 | +41 | 1/2 final | ||||
| 1996–97 | 17 | 30 pts | 34 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 25 | 53 | -28 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 1995–96 | 7 | 47 pts | 34 | 13 | 5 | 15 | 38 | 50 | -12 | 1/2 final | ||||
| 1994–95 | 6 | 36 pts | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 41 | 44 | -3 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 1993–94 | 2 | 45 pts | 34 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 46 | 19 | +27 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 1992–93 | 8 | 34 pts | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 36 | 37 | -1 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 1991–92 | 8 | 35 pts | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 34 | 32 | +2 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 1990–91 | 9 | 41 pts | 38 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 45 | 35 | +10 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 1989–90 | 3 | 49 pts | 34 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 61 | 18 | +43 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 1988–89 | 10 | 31 pts | 34 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 42 | 44 | -2 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1987–88 | 4 | 47 pts | 38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 64 | 43 | +21 | 1/8 final | ||||
| 1986–87 | 12 | 27 pts | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 28 | 39 | -11 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1985–86 | 9 | 28 pts | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 33 | 49 | -16 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1984–85 | 2 | 41 pts | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 42 | 27 | +25 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1983–84 | 9 | 28 pts | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 35 | 25 | +10 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1982–83 | 3 | 44 pts | 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 44 | 17 | +27 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1981–82 | 16 | 20 pts | 30 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 25 | 50 | -25 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 1980–81 | 1 | 45 pts | 30 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 56 | 21 | +35 | 1/8 final | ||||
| 1979–80 | 13 | 21 pts | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 26 | 49 | -23 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 1978–79 | 1 | 46 pts | 30 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 56 | 20 | +36 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1977–78 | 8 | 30 pts | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 34 | 42 | -8 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 1976–77 | 11 | 28 pts | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 26 | 31 | -5 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1975–76 | 16 | 34 pts | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 42 | 52 | -10 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 1974–75 | 13 | 34 pts | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 50 | 56 | -6 | 1/128 final | ||||
| 1973–74 | 7 | 41 pts | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 52 | 49 | +3 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1972–73 | 5 | 39 pts | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 50 | 27 | +23 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 1971–72 | 3 | 35 pts | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 50 | 29 | +21 | 1/16 final | ||||
| 1970–71 | 3 | 30 pts | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 40 | 34 | +6 | 1/64 final | ||||
| 1969–70 | 1 | 48 pts | 30 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 70 | 16 | +54 | 1/128 final | ||||
| 1968–69 | 2 | 31 pts | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 54 | 20 | +34 | 1/32 final | ||||
| 1967–68 | 2 | 12 pts | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 9 | +6 | - | ||||
| 1966–67 | 1 | 16 pts | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 9 | +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; | ||||||||||||||
TheEstádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa was built forUEFA Euro 2004 in 2003, hosting during the competitionCroatia's matches againstSwitzerland (0–0) andFrance (2–2). It also hosted the2006 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira final betweenFC Porto andVitória de Setúbal, as well as the following (Sporting CP 1–0 Porto).
The architect who designed the stadium wasTomás Taveira, who also designed stadiums for Euro 2004, including Beira-Mar'sEstádio Municipal de Aveiro and Sporting CP'sEstádio José Alvalade. The grounds belong to the municipality of Leiria.
Due to an excessive rent, Leiria relocated to theEstádio Municipal in the nearby town ofMarinha Grande, for 2011–12. For the following season, the club moved to Campo da Portela in Santa Catarina da Serra, home ofU.D. Serra.[30]
After the SAD bankruptcy, the club returned to play its home matches at theEstádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa.
Vieira Nunes (1989–90)Luís Campos (1992–93)Manuel Cajuda (1993–94)Vitor Manuel (1994–96)Eurico Gomes (1996)Quinito (1996–97)Vitor Manuel (1997)Vítor Oliveira (1997–98)Mário Reis (1998–99)Manuel José (1999–01)José Mourinho (2001–02)Mário Reis (2002)Vítor Pontes (2002)Manuel Cajuda (2002–03)Vítor Pontes (2003–05)José Manuel Gomes (2005)Jorge Jesus (2005–06)Domingos (2006–07)Paulo Duarte (2007)Vítor Oliveira (2007–08)Paulo Alves (2008)Manuel Fernandes (2008–09)
Lito Vidigal (2009–10)Pedro Caixinha (2010–11)Vítor Pontes (2011)Manuel Cajuda (2011–12)José Dominguez (2012) Ricardo Moura (2012–2013)Luis Bilro (2012–2013) Rui Rodrigues (2013–2014)Jorge Casquilha (2014–2016)
Siarhei Kabelski (2016) Kata (2016–2017)
Serghei Cleșcenco (2017)Rui Amorim (2017–2018)Luís Pinto (2018) Tiago Vicente (2018)Filipe Cândido (2018–2020) Carlos Delgado (2020) Hélder Pereira (2020–2021)Filipe Cândido (2021)Bino (2021–2022)Vasco Botelho da Costa (2022–2024)Filipe Cândido (2024–present).jpg)
União's fans are calledLeirienses orUnionistas, and their main group of supporters isArmata Ultra ("Armata Ultra").
Leiria's biggest rivals areBeira-Mar,Associação Naval 1º de Maio andAcadémica de Coimbra, which belong to the same geographical region.[31][32][33]
