Clube Desportivo Nacional, commonly known as Nacional and sometimes Nacional da Madeira (Portuguese pronunciation:[nɐsjuˈnaldɐmɐˈðɐjɾɐ]), is a Portuguese football club based in Funchal, on the island of Madeira.[2]
Founded on 8 December 1910, it currently plays in the Liga Portugal 2, Portugal's second-tier division of professional football. It plays its home games at Estádio da Madeira, also known as Estádio da Choupana. Built in 1998 and named at the time Estádio Eng. Rui Alves after the current club president Rui Alves, it seats approximately 5,132 people. The stadium is located in the north of Funchal, high in the mountains of the Choupana district. The club's home colours are black and white striped shirts with black shorts and socks. Nacional is also known for being one of the clubs that formed Portuguese internationalCristiano Ronaldo and to honour the club's most famous player they named their youth training facilities Cristiano Ronaldo Câmpus Futebol.
The Alvinegros played in the Primeira Liga in 1988–91, 2002–17, 2018–19 and 2020–21. Their best top-tier league finish was fourth in the 2003–04 and 2008–09 seasons, with Brazilian striker Nenê winning the Bola da Prata for top scorer with 20 goals in the latter. They have played in the UEFA Europa League on five occasions between 2004 and 2014, beating Zenit St. Petersburg in the play-off round and taking third place in the group stage in 2009–10. The team has reached the Taça de Portugal semi-finals four times between 2009 and 2023, and the Taça da Liga semi-final in 2010–11. Notable managers include Manuel Machado, who led the team in five spells from 2005 to 2021.
Nacional reached the first division for the first time ever with a three-season spell from 1988. Under manager José Peseiro, the team returned for 2002–03 after winning promotion in third place.[3] The team finished comfortably in 11th, with results including a 1–0 home win over S.L. Benfica on 28 September 2002 and a 3–2 win at C.S. Marítimo in the Madeira derby the following 2 February.[4] Peseiro's successor Casemiro Mior took the team to a joint-best 4th place in 2003–04, including another home win over Benfica, shortly after that team had knocked them out of the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal.[5] Stars of this team included Brazilians Paulo Assunção (defensive midfielder) and forwardAdriano (16 and 19 goals in respective seasons), both of whom later played for FC Porto.[6]
Nacional's debut European season in the 2004–05UEFA Cup ended in the first round with a 4–1 aggregate loss to Spain's Sevilla FC.[7] In January 2005, Mior left for Club Athletico Paranaense in his homeland.[8]Manuel Machado led the team to fifth in 2005–06, again reaching the UEFA Cup, but left due to his wife and children living in continental Portugal.[9] The club's second run in European competition again ended at the first hurdle, 3–1 on aggregate to CS Rapid București of Romania.[10]
Manuel Machado managed Nacional in five spells between 2005 and 2021
Nacional started the 2009–10 season without Nenê, who was sold in June to Cagliari Calcio of the Italian Serie A for a fee potentially rising to €10 million.[12] However, in August the club won a European tie for the first time, defeating 2008 champions FC Zenit Saint Petersburg 5–4 on aggregate in the playoffs of the renamed UEFA Europa League; the team were heading out on the away goals rule until a last-minute goal from youngster Rúben Micael earned a 1–1 draw in Russia.[13] Nacional were eliminated in the group stage, third behind SV Werder Bremen and Athletic Bilbao but ahead of FK Austria Wien.[14] In 2010–11, former club players Predrag Jokanović and Ivo Vieira led the team to 6th and a European return, as well as the semi-finals of the Taça da Liga for the first time (at Porto's expense), losing 4–3 to Paços de Ferreira. In the following season, following Europa League playoff elimination by Birmingham City, the team made the national cup semi-finals again, losing 5–3 on aggregate to Sporting.[15]
In his fourth of five spells as Nacional manager, Machado led the team to 5th in 2013–14, making the Europa League playoffs and falling at the first hurdle 5–2 on aggregate to FC Dinamo Minsk of Belarus.[16] In the 2014–15 Taça de Portugal they made a third semi-final in seven years, again losing to Sporting.[17] The 2016–17 season, which included Jokanović's fourth spell as manager, ended with relegation in last place, a conclusion to 15 years in the top flight.[18]
Former Portugal international Costinha was hired in 2017 and won promotion at the first attempt as champions of the 2017–18 LigaPro; Cape Verde international striker Ricardo Gomes was the league's top scorer with 22 goals in 36 games and left the club for FK Partizan in Serbia at the end of his contract.[19] Costinha left after relegation from the 2018–19 Primeira Liga, in which results included a 10–0 loss to eventual winners Benfica.[20][21]
The 2019–20 LigaPro was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal, resulting in promotion for first-placed Nacional; it was the sixth promotion in the career of 34-year-old manager Luís Freire.[22] The team were immediately relegated in last place, with Freire sacked in March 2021 and Machado seeing out the season in his fifth spell.[23] The team reached the semi-finals of the 2022–23 Taça de Portugal, losing 7–2 on aggregate to Braga,[24] while the league season went to the final day; a 3–2 home win over Académico de Viseu F.C. after losing at half time saved the team in 14th place while B-SAD took the relegation playoff position.[25]
The Estádio da Madeira, better known as the Choupana, houses Nacional. The current stadium is located around nearby training pitches. The club also built an academy campus in name of its most famous player, Cristiano Ronaldo. The stadium was renovated in 2007 for a new stand and also increasing the capacity to over 5,000 spectators. The total price of the renovations was €20 million.
In these new facilities, no stands were put behind the goals, with a tall fence used in its place. In mid-2007, the stadium name was changed to Estádio da Madeira, because of the excellent sports facilities.
Nacional has a big rivalry with Madeira-neighbours Marítimo. Historically, Marítimo dominated Nacional in the early years, being the first to reach European competition.
Last updated: 15 May 2021 Div. = Division; 1D = Primeira Liga; 2D = Segunda Liga; 2DS = Segunda Divisão – South Zone Pos. = Position; Pl = Match played; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lost; GS = Goal scored; GA = Goal against; Pts = Points R = Round (Number); QF = Quarter-finals; SF = Semi-finals; PO = Play-off; GS = Group stage
^"El Sevilla resuelve con autoridad" [Sevilla resolve with authority]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 30 September 2004. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
^Escobar de Lima, Filipe (4 December 2006). "Estrela vence e descola dos últimos lugares" [Estrela win and move away from bottom places]. Público (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
^"Sporting apurado para a final" [Sporting qualified for the final] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 8 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
^Cardoso, Francisco José (5 May 2017). "Nacional desce de divisão" [Nacional go down a division]. Diário de Notícias (Madeira) (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
^"Nacional confirma saída de Costinha" [Nacional confirm Costinha's exit]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 24 May 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
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