Sporting Clube de Portugal
Os Cinco Violinos ( The Five Violins)
The '40s and '50s were fabulous years for Sporting. They won 10 out of 18 National Football Championships during these decades, with 4 out of 13 Portuguese cups also on the club's roll of honour. From the 1946–47 season to the 1953–54 season, Sporting won seven of the eight championships contested, losing only in the 1949–50 season. This was the age of the famous Cinco Violinos ("Five Violins") that became famous on both the national and international levels, alongside with head coaches like Joseph Szabo, Robert Kelly, Randolph Galloway, Cândido de Oliveira, Armando Ferrira, Enrique Fernández and others. The name "Cinco Violinos" was given by the journalist and trainer Tavares da Silva to refer to the forward line of Jesus Correia, Manuel Vasques, Fernando Peyroteo, José Travassos, and Albano. These men were said to play as an orchestra together with the same collective spirit and efficiency on the field. During these years, Sporting scored 123 goals (almost five per game) in a championship played by 14 teams, 2 less than nowadays. This is certainly a record that will be hard to beat. For example, the striker Peyroteo finished all 12 seasons he played in the Sporting squad with more goals scored than games played.
As well as numerous National Championships and Portuguese Cups, Sporting team also claimed victories in the sporting initiative known as Taça O Século (The Century Cup). This competition came to an abrupt end after the Lions won the first two trophies as well as the Imperial Cup.
Sporting's success was recognised when, although not national champions in 1949–50, the club was invited to participate in the first edition of the Cup of the Clubs of the European Champions, now known as UEFA Champions League. It is unfortunate for Sporting fans that UEFA did not launch this competition earlier, otherwise Sporting could almost certainly have had at least one Cup of the Clubs of the European Champions amongst its honours. Sporting's first European game was against FK Partizan (3–3), in a match held at the Estádio Nacional with João Martins scoring their first goal in European competition.
Sporting's tetra-championship, the first in Portuguese football, began in the 1950–51 season with players: Mário Wilson, Juca, António Jesus Correia, Manuel Passos, Juvenal, Manuel Vasques, Galileu, Veríssimo, José Travassos, Martins, Tormenta, Carlos Gomes, Leandro, Manuel Caldeira, Armando Barros, Carlos Canário, César Nascimento, Anacleto, Manuel Marques, Pacheco Nobre, Mateus, and Pacheco. The head coach was Briton Randolph Galloway, with Fernando Vaz as his assistant.
In 1955, José Travassos became the first Portuguese footballer to be selected for the European XI. He played in Belfast against the team of Great Britain, in a performance highly praised by the international media, becoming known thereafter as "Zé da Europa" ("Zé of Europe").
Ground
Estádio José Alvalade
(Capacity: 50,076)
Location Lisbon - Portugal
Built 2003 Opened - 6 August 2003
Owner - Sporting Clube de Portugal
Surface - Grass
Construction cost - €105 million
A New Era Dawns
June 1st 2009
Today at a crowded press conference inside the Estádio José Alvalade, Sporting CP's Manager; Costinha, and Coach; Carlos Carvalhal told suprised journalists that they would be stepping down from their roles with immediate effect. They explained that although they loved their job roles they felt that they were to blame for one of Sportings Worst Season in Recent History not winning one piece of Silverware, finishing 4th in the League and getting humiliated by arch Rivals Porto 5-2 and Benfica 4-1. They affectionately told the world of their fondness for the club and stated that they will always look back on their time at the club with happy and sad memories. As they left the press conference both men shook hands with the clubs chairman José Eduardo Bettencourt, took a bow each and then left the room.
Chairman José Eduardo Bettencourt then sat down in front of the many jornalists who were still digesting the immediate resignation of the clubs Coach and Manager. He took a sip from a cup of water and went on to say...
"Today we have witnessed two gentleman leave this club, but I don't want you all going home feeling that this football club has let you down but the truth is after last season this changes were needed. Firstly as I said before we have known about this situation for a while and myself and the clubs board have spoken at depth and had many long meetings and discussions about who can fill the gap. We have done so without being rushed into a decision as we have had plenty of time to prepare. We feel we have made the right choice and are happy to introduce you too Mr...
Andrew Cura
The journalists looked at each other, most of them slowly remembering who this man was. He was the former footballer Of Sporting's youth academy who suffered a horrific accident and was never able to play football again. He continued to stay at the academy learning for Former Coach Paulo Bento and becoming his future successor.
He took a seat next to José Eduardo Bettencourt and addressed the onlooking somewhat startled journalists.
" Ola Tudos presente, My name is Andrew Cura, I was Born in Canada to Portuguese Parents and have always been a Sportinguista. I promise you that although i have very little managerial expirence i will guide o nos Clube to it former Glories and I will create the next Group of legends."
Credit to T.J-Star For the style of the Opening
The Season Will commence Tonight!
---------- Post added at 11:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 PM ----------
Transfer Updates!
IN:
Romelu Lukaku
8.5 Million Euros over 42 Months
Yaya Sanogo
8.5 Million Euros over 48 Months
Nicolas Otamendi
3 Million Euros Upfront + 3 Million Euros over 12 Months
Dentinho
8.5 Million Euros over 48 Months
Evaldo
3.5 Million Euros
Out:
Yannick Djalo - Napoli
4.8 Million Euros
Pedro Silva - Spartak Moscow
1.1 Million Euros
Carlos Saleiro - Norwich
200,000 Euros
Abel - Anderlecht
900,000 Euros
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