Leça F.C.


Leça Futebol Clube, better known as Leça FC or simply Leça, is a Portuguese football club located in the town of Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos. Founded in 1912, it had a spell in the top-flight Primeira Liga between 1995 and 1998, when it was relegated for financial irregularities. They currently play in the Portuguese Second Division and, in the previous season of 2007–08, they finished 10th in the division. The club currently play their home games at the Estádio do Leça FC, which holds a capacity of 12,000 spectators. The current chairman is Fernando Monteiro and their current manager is Serbian Milic Jovanović. The club's shirt and socks are white while their shorts are green.

History

Founded in 1912, Leca participated in the Portuguese Liga from 1995 to 1998 but a decision taken by the Portuguese Football Federation based on past acts of corruption decided to relegate Leça to the Liga de Honra for 1998–99 season. The team was expected to fight for promotion but the efforts were not enough to bring the team to the top level again. In the upcoming years, the club was affected by financial problems that cut some of the desire of wanting the team back to the top. Because of the team's lower budget, new goals were set. The main goal was now to make the club financially secure and then try to put the team back on the first division.
However, after a series of events of bad management of the financial status by the presidents, it has been related that some of the presidents stole money from the club to use for their own benefit, which was unpaid wages to the team professionals, unqualified team coaches and other sporting factors. Since then, they've been dubbed as strong candidates to promotion but never confirmed the expectations, finishing in mid-table and surprisingly sometimes near the bottom of the table. In the most recent season of 2007–08, they finished 10th in the division with management by manager Milić Jovanović

Badge

The club's badge is in green and white, the club colours. The castle on top of it represents Leça da Palmeira, the city which the club was in on its foundation in 1912.

Stadium

Leça play their games at the Estádio do Leça FC. The current stadium has played host to many matches down the years in the Portuguese Liga or in the Liga de Honra. It currently has a capacity of 12,000 spectators and has two big stands in green and white which symbolizes the club's colours. The stands also feature the name of the club on both sides of the pitch. The club constructed the stadium in 1992 were in that time Leça were ready to go in the top flight of Portuguese football.

Honours

As of April 14, 2009
SeasonDivisionPos.Pl.WDLGSPtsPortuguese CupNotes
1968–69II Divisão7th????????????
1969–70II Divisão14th????????????
1970–71II Divisão7th????????????
1971–72II Divisão5th????????????
1972–73II Divisão8th????????????
1973–74III Divisão9th????????????
1974–75III Divisão12th????????????
1975–76III Divisão9th????????????
1976–77III Divisão14th????????????Relegated
1977–781º Escalão Dist.1st????????????Promoted
1978–79III Divisão4th????????????
1979–80III Divisão10th????????????
1980–81III Divisão1st????????????Promoted
1981–82II Divisão10th????????????
1982–83II Divisão14th????????????Relegated
1983–84III Divisão15th????????????Relegated
1984–85Distritais – 1ª Divisão8th????????????
1985–86Distritais – 1ª Divisão2nd????????????Promoted
1986–87III Div.6th????????????Relegated
1987–88III Div.6th????????????Relegated
1988–89III Div.7th????????????Relegated
1989–90III Div.4th????????????Relegated
1990–91II Divisão B17th????????????-
1991–92II Divisão B2nd????????????-
1992–93II Divisão B1st????????????Promoted
1993–94Liga de Honra8th????????????-
1994–95Liga de Honra1st????????????Promoted
1995–96Primeira Liga14th????????????
1996–97Primeira Liga14th????????????Relegated
1997–98Primeira Liga12th????????????Relegated
1998–99Liga de Honra6th????????????-
1999–2000Liga de Honra11th????????????-
2000–01Liga de Honra13th????????????-
2001–02Liga de Honra11th????????????-
2002–03Liga de Honra17th????????????
2003–04II Div.19th????????????Relegated
2004–05III Div.5th????????????
2005–06III Div.9th????????????
2006–07III Div.1st????????????Promoted
2007–08III Div.13th????????????Relegated
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2008–09III Div.7th????????????
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Current squad