C.F. Os Belenenses

Lore & Background

Belenenses reached their first Campeonato final in 1926, losing to Marítimo, but won the title the next season against Vitória de Setúbal. The club won its third and final Campeonato in 1933, defeating Sporting CP. During this early period, José Manuel Soares (Pepe) became an idol after scoring a decisive penalty on his debut, but died at age 23 from accidental poisoning. A mausoleum was erected in his memory at the Restelo stadium, and Porto traditionally lays a wreath there when playing at the venue.

The club won its only Primeira Liga title in 1945–46, edging Benfica by one point. Belenenses were runners-up in 1954–55, losing the title four minutes from the end with a draw against Sporting. They moved to the Estádio do Restelo in 1956, which required selling key players. The club was relegated for the first time in 1981–82 and has been relegated three other times since.

In 2018, the club and Belenenses SAD split after the protocol for use of the Estádio do Restelo ended. The SAD moved to the Estádio Nacional, while the club registered an amateur team in the sixth division, supported by most fans. Belenenses then climbed five divisions in a row, reaching professional competition again in 2023, equaling a world record.

Reader's Guide

C.F. Os Belenenses holds a unique place in Portuguese football history as the first club outside the traditional Big Three (Benfica, Porto, Sporting) to win the Primeira Liga, a feat accomplished in 1945–46. This achievement broke a long-standing hegemony and demonstrated that the top division was not exclusively controlled by the dominant trio. The club also pioneered innovations in Portuguese football, being the first to install a turf pitch and artificial lighting, and the first Portuguese club to participate in the UEFA Europa League.

Belenenses has won six Championship of Portugal/Portuguese Cup trophies, making it the fifth most decorated team in Portuguese football, and has the fourth most seasons in the Primeira Liga. The club's resilience is exemplified by its recovery from a 2018 split, when the professional SAD separated from the original club. Belenenses restarted from the sixth division and climbed to professional status in five consecutive seasons, a world-record achievement. The club also engages in social responsibility, winning the Liga Portugal Social Responsibility Award in 2023 for a blood donation campaign and hosting events for the International Day of People with Disabilities.

Despite its modest current standing in Liga 3, Belenenses remains a symbol of tradition and perseverance, with a loyal fanbase that reversed a long decline in attendance figures after the club split. Its legacy includes being one of four teams never relegated from the first division until 1982, and it continues to compete in multiple sports, having won national championships in football, handball, basketball, futsal, athletics, and rugby union.

Did You Know?

• Belenenses was the first Portuguese club to have a turf pitch and artificial lighting.
• The club was the first Portuguese team to participate in the UEFA Europa League.
• Belenenses won its only Primeira Liga title in 1945–46, becoming the first club outside the Big Three to do so.
• After a club split in 2018, Belenenses climbed from the sixth division to professional competition in five consecutive seasons, equaling a world record.