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 in 1941–42 and between 1995 and 1998, when it was relegated for financial irregularities. In the 2022–23 season they played in the Campeonato de Portugal. 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 António Pinho and their current manager is João Crespo. The club's shirt and socks are white while their shorts are green.
History
Founded in 1912, Leca participated in the Portuguese championships, held in cup format, from the 1927–28 to 1931–32 season, reaching the quarter-finals in 1928–29.[1]
In 1941, the team achieved promotion to the top division – Primeira Divisão, where they played for one season 1941-42. The next participation at this level occurred more than 50 years later.[1]
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.[2]
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 2002–03 season they were relegated from the Segunda Liga, a year later and from the third league (Segunda Divisão B). Since then they have made one appearance in the third tier of the league system - in the 2007/08 season, playing in the lower leagues, including at regional level. In the 2020–21 season of league Campeonato de Portugal they achieved promotion, but due to the inability to obtain a license due to debt to tax authorities, a place in the new Liga 3 was given to the team that took the next place.[3]
Since June 7, 2021 registered as Leça Futebol SAD (Leça Futebol Clube - Futebol SAD)[4]
In the 2022–23 season, the team finished 9th out of 14 in Serie B of the league Portuguese Championship, and since the last 6 teams were relegated, Leca moved to the Championship of Porto FA.[2]
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.
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 built the stadium in 1992 as Leça were ready to go into the top flight of Portuguese football.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Wesley John – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago international who played in Portugal for 23 years, including for clubs Ribeira Brava and Porto da Cruz, both below the Portuguese fourth tier)[5]
References
^ abc"História". lecafutebolclube.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
