S.C. Braga

Sporting Clube de Braga (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈspɔɾtĩŋ ˈkluβ(ɨ) ðɨ ˈβɾaɣɐ]) (Euronext Lisbon: SCB ), commonly known as Sporting de Braga or just Braga, is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Braga. It is best known for the professional football team playing in the Primeira Liga, the top flight of Portuguese football at the Estádio Municipal de Braga.

Braga
Full nameSporting Clube de Braga
Nickname(s)Os Arcebispos (The Archbishops)
Os Arsenalistas (The Arsenalists)
Arsenal do Minho (Minho's Arsenal)
Minhotos (Those from Minho)
Os Guerreiros do Minho (The Minho Warriors)
Braguistas
Founded19 January 1921 (1921-01-19)
GroundEstádio Municipal de Braga
Capacity30,360
PresidentAntónio Salvador
Head coachArtur Jorge
LeaguePrimeira Liga
2021–22Primeira Liga, 4th of 18
WebsiteClub website
Away colours
Third colours

In the 2000s, Braga became one of Portugal's most decorated clubs (7th) after the Big Three and has had some success in European competitions, winning the last UEFA Intertoto Cup (the only Portuguese club to do so) in 2008, and reaching the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2011. They have also won another 6 domestic trophies: three Taça de Portugal in 1965–66, 2015–16, and in 2020–21, and the Taça da Liga twice in 2012–13 and 2019–20. Braga have a long-standing rivalry with nearby club Vitória de Guimarães, with whom they contest the Derby do Minho.

The club qualified for the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League, reaching the competition for the first time in their history, by eliminating Celtic and Sevilla following a 2nd place finish in the 2009–10 Primeira Liga season. This represented the highest finish in the league in the club's history. Its football team is considered the fourth strongest in Portugal after those of The Big Three.[1]

History

Braga changed their kits from green and white to their current red and white during the 1945–46 season (for the reserve squad) and the 1946–47 season (for the first team). The change, according to one version of the story, was at the behest of their president, José Antunes Guimarães, who had business connections in London and was an Arsenal fan; according to an alternate version, it was József Szabó, Braga's Hungarian coach, who asked the president to change the green and white uniform to an Arsenal-style red and white. In 1947, Braga won the Second division title in the new kit, reaching the First division for the first time. Braga even renamed their youth team Arsenal de Braga.

One of the first matches played in Arsenal-style kits against R C Celta Vigo

Braga's emblem is the city of Braga's shield with Mother Mary and baby Jesus with the blue from the city's shield changed to red. On the top of the emblem is the golden Mural Crown of Braga, with the name "Sporting Clube de Braga" on it. Many Braga fans have said that Mother Mary gives them luck. The fans of Braga are known as Arsenalistas due to their team home kit that resembles that of English club Arsenal.[2] They are also known as Bracarenses because of being from the city of Bracari, later named Bracara Augusta, city of Portugal that is now known as Braga.

Aside from the loyalty of its supporters, the Minho derby against Vitória de Guimarães is a match that both sets of fans eagerly await. This match is more than football – it is a way people from the north view each city. The derby is one of Portugal's most intense matches, and children under 13 are restricted from entering unless an adult is with them. The rivalry goes back to when the City of Braga was the ancient capital of Gallaecia and the largest Portuguese city by the time the Kingdom of Portugal was formed by Afonso I of Portugal. At that time, Guimarães became the seat of the King and nobility, whereas the city of Braga remained the centre of trade and religious power (the largest city and seat of the Archbishop).

Braga's ranking in Europe since 2003
SeasonUEFA RankingPoints
2003–04 – –
2004–05139th 15.739
2005–06136th 17.533
2006–0796th 27.107
2007–0879th 33.176
2008–0950th 39.292
2009–1048th 39.659
2010–1128th 62.319
2011–1229th 63.069
2012–1329th 62.833
2013–1440th 52.959
2014–1537th 51.776
2015–1646th 43.116
2016–1755th 37.366

In the 1960s and 1970s, Braga began to climb up the league ladder and eventually participated in the UEFA competitions. Braga's recent run of successive European participations began in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup after finishing fifth in the league under Jesualdo Ferreira's first full season in the club. In the 2006–07 UEFA Cup, the side reached the last 16 before a 6–4 aggregate loss to Tottenham Hotspur.[3] That summer, the club signed a three-year sponsorship deal with French insurance company Axa, who took over the naming rights for the stadium for €4.5 million;[4] this was renewed for a further three years in 2010.[5]

In 2008–09 under Jorge Jesus, Braga finished as runners-up for the only time in the league and again reached the UEFA Cup last 16, where they lost by a single goal to Paris Saint-Germain.[6] Entering the UEFA Champions League for the first time, in the fourth qualifying round Braga beat Sevilla 1–0 at home and 4–3 away, thus making the group stage.[7] On 15 September 2010, Braga were heavily defeated 6–0 by Arsenal in its first group stage match.[8] Eliminated in third place, they dropped into the Europa League and reached the final in Dublin, where they lost to a goal by FC Porto's Radamel Falcao.[9]

Braga won the Taça da Liga for the first time in 2013 under José Peseiro, with one goal from Alan against Porto.[10] Two years later, Sérgio Conceição's side lost on penalties to Sporting CP in the Taça de Portugal final,[11] but triumphed over Porto on the same method in 2016 to win their first such cup in 50 years.[12]

In 2019–20, Braga went through four managers over the course of the season.[13] The second of these, Rúben Amorim, led them to a league cup victory over Porto, with Ricardo Horta scoring in added time to secure the trophy on home soil.[14]

On 28 July 2020, Carlos Carvalhal was announced as the new head coach, after 14 years away from the club.[15] He led the club to the league cup final again, where they lost to Amorim's new team Sporting,[16] but won the 2021 Taça de Portugal Final 2–0 against Benfica.[17] He would leave the club and be replaced by Artur Jorge after the 2021–22 season ended.[18]

On 10 October 2022, 21.67% of the club shares were bought for €80 million by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the state-run sovereign-wealth fund in Qatar owned by Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, who is also the owner of Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain through the QSI.[19]

League and cup history

Recent seasons
Season League Cup League Cup Europe (UEFA) Notes
Div. Pos. Pl W D L GS GA Pts Result Result Competition Result
2016–17 1st 5th 3415910513654 L16 RU Europa League GS
2017–18 4th 342437742975 L32 3R Europa League L32
2018–19 4th 342149563767 SF SF Europa League Q3
2019–20 3rd 3418610614060 R5 W Europa League L32
2020–21 4th 341978533364 W RU Europa League L32
A. ^ Best league finish.
B. ^ First presence in the UEFA Champions League.
C. ^ Braga started season in the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League and later joined UEFA Europa League after finishing 3rd in the group stage.
D. ^ Best European competition finish.
Last updated: 3 October 2018

Honours

[20][21]

National
  • Runners-up: 2009–10
  • Winners: 1965–66, 2015–16, 2020–21
  • Runners-up: 1976–77, 1981–82, 1997–98, 2014–15
  • Taça da Liga
  • Winners: 2012–13, 2019–20
  • Runners-up: 2016–17, 2020–21
  • Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  • Runners-up: 1982, 1998, 2016, 2021
  • Taça Federação Portuguesa de Futebol
  • Winners (1): 1976–77 (First Division)
  • Segunda Divisão[22]
  • Winners: 1946–47, 1963–64

International
  • Winners: 2008 (Outright Winner)

Other
  • Taça Ribeiro dos Reis
  • Runners-up (1): 1970–71

European record

Overview

As of 18 October 2022.

SC Braga record in European football by competition[23]
Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD Win%
UEFA Champions League / European Cup 18 7 2 9 23 31 −8 038.89
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 10 6 1 3 13 11 +2 060.00
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup 137 60 31 46 201 172 +29 043.80
UEFA Intertoto Cup 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 100.00
Total 167 75 34 58 242 214 +28 044.91

Matches
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1966–67 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup R1 AEK Athens 3–2 1–0 4–2
R2 Raba ETO Győr 2–0 0–3 2–3
1978–79 UEFA Cup R1 Hibernians 5–0 2–3 7–3
R2 West Bromwich Albion 0–2 0–1 0–3
1982–83 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Pre Swansea City 1–0 0–3 1–3
1984–85 UEFA Cup R1 Tottenham Hotspur 0–3 0–6 0–9
1997–98 UEFA Cup R1 Vitesse 2–0 1–2 3–2
R2 Dinamo Tbilisi 4–0 1–0 5–0
R3 Schalke 04 0–0 0–2 0–2
1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup R1 Liepājas Metalurgs 4–0 0–0 4–0
R2 Lokomotiv Moscow 1–0 1–3 2–3
2004–05 UEFA Cup R1 Heart of Midlothian 2–2 1–3 3–5
2005–06 UEFA Cup R1 Red Star Belgrade 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
2006–07 UEFA Cup R1 Chievo 2–0 1–2 (a.e.t.) 3–2
GS AZ  – 0–3 3rd
Slovan Liberec 4–0  –
Sevilla  – 0–2
Grasshopper 2–0  –
L32 Parma 1–0 1–0 2–0
L16 Tottenham Hotspur 2–3 2–3 4–6
2007–08 UEFA Cup R1 Hammarby 4–0 1–2 5–2
GS Bolton Wanderers  – 1–1 2nd
Bayern Munich 1–1  –
Aris  – 1–1
Red Star Belgrade 2–0  –
L32 Werder Bremen 0–1 0–3 0–4
2008–09 UEFA Intertoto Cup R3 Sivasspor 3–0 2–0 5–0
2008–09 UEFA Cup Q2 Zrinjski Mostar 1–0 2–0 3–0
R1 Artmedia Petržalka 4–0 2–0 6–0
GS Portsmouth 3–0  – 3rd
Milan  – 0–1
VfL Wolfsburg 2–3  –
Heerenveen  – 2–1
L32 Standard Liège 3–0 1–1 4–1
L16 Paris Saint-Germain 0–1 0–0 0–1
2009–10 UEFA Europa League Q3 Elfsborg 1–2 0–2 1–4
2010–11 UEFA Champions League Q3 Celtic 3–0 1–2 4–2
PO Sevilla 1–0 4–3 5–3
GS Arsenal 2–0 0–6 3rd
Shakhtar Donetsk 0–3 0–2
Partizan 2–0 1–0
2010–11 UEFA Europa League L32 Lech Poznań 2–0 0–1 2–1
L16 Liverpool 1–0 0–0 1–0
QF Dynamo Kyiv 0–0 1–1 1–1 (a)
SF Benfica 1–0 1–2 2–2 (a)
Final Porto 0–1
2011–12 UEFA Europa League PO Young Boys 0–0 2–2 2–2 (a)
GS Club Brugge 1–2 1–1 2nd
Birmingham City 1–0 3–1
Maribor 5–1 1–1
L32 Beşiktaş 0–2 1–0 1–2
2012–13 UEFA Champions League PO Udinese 1–1 1–1 (5–4 pen.) 1–1 (5–4)
GS CFR Cluj 0–2 1–3 4th
Galatasaray 1–2 2–0
Manchester United 1–3 2–3
2013–14 UEFA Europa League PO Pandurii Târgu Jiu 0–2 (a.e.t.) 1–0 1–2
2015–16 UEFA Europa League GS Marseille 3–2 0–1 1st
Slovan Liberec 2–1 1–0
Groningen 1–0 0–0
L32 Sion 2–2 2–1 4–3
L16 Fenerbahçe 4–1 0–1 4–2
QF Shakhtar Donetsk 1–2 0–4 1–6
2016–17 UEFA Europa League GS Shakhtar Donetsk 2–4 0–2 3rd
Gent 1–1 2–2
Konyaspor 2–1 1–1
2017–18 UEFA Europa League Q3 AIK 2–1 (a.e.t.) 1–1 3–2
PO FH Hafnarfjardar 3–2 2–1 5–3
GS Ludogorets Razgrad 0–2 1–1 1st
1899 Hoffenheim 3–1 2–1
İstanbul Başakşehir 2–1 1–2
L32 Marseille 1–0 0–3 1–3
2018–19 UEFA Europa League Q3 Zorya Luhansk 2–2 1−1 3–3 (a)
2019–20 UEFA Europa League Q3 Brøndby 4–2 3–1 7–3
PO Spartak Moscow 1–0 2–1 3–1
GS Beşiktaş 3–1 2–1 1st
Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–3 1–0
Slovan Bratislava 2–2 4–2
L32 Rangers 0–1 2–3 2–4
2020–21 UEFA Europa League GS Leicester City 3–3 0–4 2nd
AEK Athens 3–0 4–2
Zorya Luhansk 2–0 2–1
L32 Roma 0–2 1–3 1–5
2021–22 UEFA Europa League GS Red Star Belgrade 1–1 1–2 2nd
Ludogorets Razgrad 4–2 1–0
Midtjylland 3–1 2–3
KPO Sheriff Tiraspol 2–0 (3–2 pen.) 0–2 2–2 (3–2)
L16 Monaco 2–0 1–1 3–1
QF Rangers 1–0 1–3 2–3
2022–23 UEFA Europa League GS Malmö 2–0
Union Berlin 1–0
Union Saint-Gilloise 1–2 3–3
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate

Players

Current squad
As of 2 September 2022[24]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  BRA Matheus
2 DF  ESP Víctor Gómez (on loan from Espanyol)
3 DF  BRA Vítor Tormena
4 DF  FRA Sikou Niakaté (on loan from Guingamp)
5 DF  TUR Serdar Saatçı
6 DF  POR Nuno Sequeira
7 FW  POR Rodrigo Gomes
8 MF  LBY Al-Musrati
9 FW  ESP Abel Ruiz
10 MF  POR André Horta
11 FW  POR Roger Fernandes
12 GK  POR Tiago Sá
14 FW  ESP Álvaro Djaló
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF  POR Paulo Oliveira
18 MF  MEX Diego Lainez (on loan from Betis)
19 MF  SRB Uroš Račić (on loan from Valencia)
21 FW  POR Ricardo Horta (captain)
23 FW  FRA Simon Banza
24 DF  POR Bruno Rodrigues
26 DF  COL Cristian Borja
29 MF  FRA Jean-Baptiste Gorby
45 MF  POR Iuri Medeiros
70 DF  BRA Fabiano Silva
88 MF  POR André Castro
96 FW  POR Miguel Falé
99 FW  POR Vitinha

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
13 DF  POR Tiago Esgaio (at Arouca until 30 June 2023)
16 MF  POR Eduardo Schürrle (at Trofense until 30 June 2023)
25 MF  BRA Lucas Mineiro (at Westerlo until 30 June 2023)
74 DF  POR Francisco Moura (at Famalicão until 30 June 2023)
No. Pos. Nation Player
95 FW  BRA Guilherme Schettine (at Grasshoppers until 30 June 2023)
— DF  POR Zé Carlos (at Ibiza until 30 June 2023)
— MF  BRA Lucas Piazon (at Botafogo until 30 June 2023)
— FW  ESP Mario González (at OH Leuven until 30 June 2023)

Club staff
As of 1 July 2022
Position Staff
Manager Artur Jorge
Assistant Managers André Cunha
First-Team Coach João Cardoso
First-Team Goalkeeper Coach Orlando Silva
Eduardo Carvalho
Fitness Coach Ernesto Peixoto
Chief Scout Paulo Meneses
Scout Ernesto Peixoto
Youth Chief Scout José Luís Antunes
Head of Medical Vítor Moreira

Managerial history
  • József Szabó (1935–37), (1945), (1953–54)
  • Mário Imbelloni (1955–56)
  • Eduardo Viso (1955–56)
  • József Szabó (1956–57), (1960–61)
  • António Teixeira (1964–65)
  • José Valle (1965–66)
  • Rui Sim-Sim (1966)
  • Manuel Palmeira (1966)
  • Fernando Caiado (1966–67)
  • José Valle (1967)
  • José Maria Vieira (1967–68)
  • Artur Quaresma (1968–69)
  • Federico Passos (1969)
  • Alberto Pereira (1969–70)
  • Joaquim Coimbra (1970)
  • José Carlos (1975–76)
  • Mário Lino (1976–77)
  • Hilário Conceição (1977)
  • Mário Imbelloni (1977–78)
  • Fernando Caiado (1978–79)
  • Hilário Conceição (1979–80)
  • Mário Lino (1980–81)
  • Quinito (1981–82)
  • Juca (1 July 1982 – 30 June 1983)
  • Quinito (1983–85)
  • Henrique Calisto (1985)
  • Humberto Coelho (1 July 1985–87)
  • Manuel José (1987–89)
  • Raul Águas (1990)
  • Carlos Garcia (1990–92)
  • Vitor Manuel (1992)
  • António Oliveira (1992–94)
  • Neca (1994)
  • Manuel Cajuda (1 July 1994 – 30 June 1997)
  • Fernando Castro Santos (1997–98)
  • Vítor Oliveira (1 July 1998–98)
  • Carlos Manuel (1998)
  • Manuel Cajuda (1 April 1999 – 30 June 2002)
  • Fernando Castro Santos (2002–03)
  • Jesualdo Ferreira (19 April 2003 – 8 May 2006)
  • Carlos Carvalhal (10 May 2006 – 8 November 2006)
  • Rogério Gonçalves (13 November 2006 – 19 February 2007)
  • Jorge Costa (19 February 2007 – 30 October 2007)
  • António Caldas (interim) (31 October 2007 – 11 November 2007)
  • Manuel Machado (12 November 2007 – 21 April 2008)
  • Jorge Jesus (20 May 2008 – 15 June 2009)
  • Domingos (20 June 2009 – 30 June 2011)
  • Leonardo Jardim (1 July 2011 – 30 June 2012)
  • José Peseiro (1 July 2012 – 30 June 2013)
  • Jesualdo Ferreira (1 July 2013 – 23 February 2014)
  • Jorge Paixão (23 February 2014 – 23 May 2014)
  • Sérgio Conceição (2014–15)
  • Paulo Fonseca (2015–16)
  • José Peseiro (1 July 2016 – 15 December 2016)
  • Jorge Simão (17 December 2016 – 26 April 2017)
  • Abel Ferreira (27 April 2017 – 30 June 2019)
  • Ricardo Sá Pinto (3 July 2019 – 23 December 2019)[25]
  • Rúben Amorim (27 December 2019 – 3 March 2020)
  • Custódio (3 March 2020 – 1 July 2020)
  • Artur Jorge (1 July 2020 – 28 July 2020)
  • Carlos Carvalhal (28 July 2020 – 15 May 2022)
  • Artur Jorge (15 May 2022 – present)

References
  1. Hopkins, Oliver (27 September 2022). "Braga's Push to Break the Big Three Hegemony in Portugal". The Analyst. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  2. Braga break into big time. uefa.com. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  3. Sinnott, John (14 March 2007). "Tottenham 3-2 Braga (agg 6-4)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  4. "Futebol: Sporting de Braga cede nome do estadio a seguradora AXA por 4,5 milhoes em tres anos" [Football: Sporting de Braga cede name of stadium to insurers AXA for 4.5 million over three years]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 9 July 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  5. "Sporting de Braga e AXA renovam parceria por mais três anos" [Sporting de Braga and AXA renew partnership for three more years] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  6. "Timely Hoarau makes wasteful Braga pay". UEFA. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  7. "Sevilla dumped out by Sporting Braga". CNN. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  8. "Arsenal 6 – 0 Braga". BBC Sport. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  9. Fifield, Dominic (18 May 2011). "Falcao strikes to bring Europa League glory to Porto". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  10. "Braga derrota FC Porto e vence a Taça da Liga" [Braga defeat FC Porto and win the Taça da Liga]. Sol (in Portuguese). 13 April 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  11. "Sporting beats Braga on penalties to win Portuguese Cup". USA Today. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  12. "Braga win Portuguese Cup on penalties". Be Soccer. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  13. "Artur Jorge acredita que o Sp. Braga irá chegar ao terceiro lugar" [Artur Jorge believes that Sp. Braga will get to third place]. Público (in Portuguese). 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  14. "Late Ricardo Horta strike wins the Taça da Liga for Braga". PortuGOAL. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  15. Andrade, Tomaz (28 July 2020). "Oficial: Carlos Carvalhal é o novo treinador do Braga" [Official: Carlos Carvalhal is the new Braga manager]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  16. Barbosa, Nuno (25 January 2021). "Ruben Amorim e Carlos Carvalhal "escapam" a suspensão mas levam multa" [Ruben Amorim and Carlos Carvalhal "escape" suspension but get fines]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  17. Ribeiro, Patrick (23 May 2021). "Braga beat nine-man Benfica to lift Portuguese Cup". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  18. "Artur Jorge oficializado como novo treinador do Braga". www.jn.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  19. "ADono do PSG compra 21,67% da SAD do SC Braga". ominho.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  20. "SC Braga Honours". record.pt. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  21. "More about SC Braga". fcdynamo.kiev. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  22. Upon the formation of the Liga de Honra (League of Honor), a new second level national league in 1990, the Portuguese Second Division became the third tier of Portuguese football.
  23. "Braga Histórico Competiões record". Zerozero.pt.
  24. "Futebol - Equipa Principal" (in Portuguese). S.C. Braga.
  25. "Comunicado da SC Braga - SAD". 23 December 2019.
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