U.D. Vilafranquense

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U.D. Vilafranquense
Full nameUnião Desportiva Vilafranquense
Nickname(s)Piranhas do Tejo (Tagus Piranhas)
Founded12 April 1957; 67 years ago (12 April 1957)
Dissolved5 May 2023; 11 months ago (5 May 2023) (merged with AVS Futebol SAD)
GroundCampo do Cevadeiro
Capacity2,500
ChairmanElias Barquete Albarrello
2022–23Liga Portugal 2, 7th of 18
WebsiteClub website

União Desportiva Vilafranquense was a Portuguese football club from Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon District.

At the time of closure in 2023, it competed in Liga Portugal 2, the second tier of the Portuguese football league system, following its promotion in 2019. The club relocated to Vila das Aves after the 2022-23 Liga Portugal 2, rebranding itself as AVS Futebol SAD and adopting the defunct Desportivo das Aves's facilities and colours.

The other only time when the club had played in the second tier was in 1987–88 season, when that level was still regionalised. [1]

History[edit]

The club was created in April 12, 1957 with the merger between four local sports clubs: Grupo de Foot-Ball Operário Vilafranquense, Águia Sport Club Vilafranquense, Hóquei Clube Vilafranquense and Ginásio Vilafranquense.

In the 2016–17 Taça de Portugal, Vilafranquense defeated G.S. Loures, Vilaverdense F.C. and G.D. Vitória de Sernache to reach a fourth-round tie at home to F.C. Paços de Ferreira of the Primeira Liga.[2] They beat the top-flight team 1–0 on 20 November, with a goal by Marocas.[3] In the next round (last 16), they lost by the same score at Vitória S.C., also of the Primeira.[4]

In the 2018–19 Campeonato de Portugal, Vilafranquense came second in Serie C behind U.D. Leiria. In the play-offs, they dispatched Lusitânia F.C. and then Leiria on penalties to win promotion. This was the club's first time in a national second division.[1] On 23 June in the final at the Estádio Nacional against Casa Pia A.C., the club drew 2–2 then lost 4–2 on penalties.[5]

Due to the inadequate facilities of their Campo do Cevadeiro, Vilafranquense had to play their LigaPro home games 50 kilometres away at the Estádio Municipal in Rio Maior.[6]

At end of 2022–23 season, UD Vilafranquense relocate to Aves and became a new club, AVS Futebol SAD from 2023–24.

Current squad[edit]

As of 6 July 2023

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
5 DF Spain ESP Kike Hermoso
6 MF Portugal POR André Ceitil
10 MF France FRA Idrissa Dioh
11 FW Algeria ALG Mouhamed Belkheir
16 DF Pakistan PAK Easah Suliman (on loan from Vitória Guimarães)
19 FW Guinea GUI Mamadou Diallo
23 DF Luxembourg LUX Eric Veiga
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 FW Guinea-Bissau GNB Madi Queta
26 MF Portugal POR André Sousa
27 FW France FRA Nathan Bizet
28 DF Portugal POR Sílvio
30 DF Brazil BRA Bruno Silva
98 GK Portugal POR Fábio Duarte
FW Portugal POR Leandro Tipote

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Vilafranquense vence União de Leiria e sobe à II Liga" [Vilafranquense defeat União de Leiria and go up to II Liga] (in Portuguese). TSF. 16 June 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Vilafranquense recebe Paços para a Taça" [Vilafranquense hosts Paços in the Taça] (in Portuguese). O Mirante. 22 October 2016. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Vilafranquense afasta Paços de Ferreira da Taça de Portugal" [Vilafranquense knock out Paços de Ferreira in the Taça de Portugal]. Correia da Manhã (in Portuguese). 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Hurtado coloca o V. Guimarães nos quartos de final" [Hurtado puts V. Guimarães into the quarter-finals] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Casa Pia conquista o Campeonato de Portugal" [Casa Pia win the Campeonato de Portugal]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 June 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Vilafranquense não encontra alternativas ao Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior" [Vilafranquense find no alternatives to the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.

External links[edit]