Uniao de Coimbra
- Leagues Played
- Portugal Campeonato Nacional 77 Portugal Cup 6
- Links
- Wikipedia
- Related Teams
- Uniao de Coimbra U19
Wikipedia - C.F. União de Coimbra
Clube União 1919, usually known as União de Coimbra (Portuguese pronunciation: [uniˈɐ̃w dɨ kuˈĩbɾɐ]), is a sports club in the city of Coimbra, Portugal. The club was founded on 2 June 1919 and has a large array of currently active or temporarily disbanded sports departments which includes football, futsal, basketball, aikido, volleyball, swimming, esports and billiards. The main men's football team currently plays in the Campeonato de Portugal. The club uses a stadium in Coimbra, the Campo da Arregaça, which has 1,500 seats and belongs to the municipality.
History
The club was founded on 2 June 2, 1919 in Coimbra, Portugal, under the name União Foot-Ball Coimbra Club. Its founders were a group of young people linked to commerce and industry, including shop and workshop owners and employees, bricklayers, locksmiths, tinsmiths, shoemakers, etc., who set up their own "foot-ball" club in the heart of the city's downtown. The first talks took place in the shop of shoemaker Afonso Chato, in Largo do Romal, in October 1918. Subsequent meetings were held in Largo de Sansão, now Praça 8 de Maio, in the heart of downtown Coimbra. Later, the board of directors decided to change the name to Clube de Futebol União de Coimbra (CF União de Coimbra).
The club's traditional stadium in Coimbra city proper, the Campo da Arregaça, was inaugurated in 1928 and built by the Coimbra City Hall, but in the 21st century the club has also played for some periods of time in the Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição, another City Hall-owned 2,500-seat stadium in Taveiro, a civil parish of Coimbra Municipality located in the outskirts of the city proper, which is a municipal stadium built in 2002 and was named after Coimbra-born football player Sérgio Conceição.
The main football team of União de Coimbra played one single season in the Portuguese First Division, in the 1972-1973 season, among big clubs like FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting Clube de Portugal. However this season coincided with hometown big club Académica de Coimbra being in Segunda Divisão as a result of being relegated the previous season, so a top division Coimbra derby never took place.
In 2016, for legal reasons related ro the club's financial distress and subsequent reorganization after its bankruptcy, the club was forced to change its name to Clube União 1919.
The team competes in various national leagues and tournaments, showcasing a blend of traditional Portuguese soccer style and modern tactics. Their home matches are held at the Estádio Municipal de Coimbra, where fans gather to support their team with fervor and enthusiasm. The club's motto emphasizes teamwork, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence, making them a respected contender in Portuguese football.
União de Coimbra is not just about the game; it embodies the spirit of Coimbra, a city renowned for its academic heritage and historical significance. The team plays a vital role in promoting sportsmanship and unity, making it a beloved institution in the local community and beyond. Whether on the pitch or in the stands, União de Coimbra continues to inspire generations of soccer enthusiasts.