The town of Torres Vedras located 50 km north of Lisbon is well preserved historical landmarks dating back to over thousand years ago, home of “the most Portuguese carnival in Portugal,” but most importantly home of Sport Clube União Torreense.
In the 25/26 season the second tier club achieved something incredible. They won the Taca de Portugal beating the 18 time cup winners and national football powerhouse Sporting CP. They became the second only team to win the trophy outside of the top flight, with the first being in 1960/61 by Leixões S.C. The 2-1 victory began from a headed goal by Zohi in just the 4th minute, unsurprisingly Sporting then dominated possession and had a significant number of chances. Despite Suarez scoring in the 54th minute for Sporting, the second division side held on into extra time. In the second half Stopira blasted a penalty into the top corner to send the stands into chaos. Creating one of the most iconic moments in Portuguese club football history.
Not to discredit the generational achievement by Torreense but it is fair to say they received a favourable run to the final. They played fifth tier side ADC Correlhã in the second round and only in the fifth and final round did they play a top flight side. Unbelievably they played AD Fafe, a third tier team in the semi-final making it one of the most memorable Taca de Portugal’s in recent history. Regardless of who they played through, their victory rightfully earnt them a place in the Europa League.
On their European adventures the fairytale continued, for their debut fixture in the competition they met Norwegian side Lillestrom. Played in the Arasen Stadion in a town the east of Oslo, the underdogs found a way once again beating the five time Norwegian champions. Not only was the result impressive but so was the performance. Torreense were 2-0 up before halftime scored by Alejandro Alfaro and Manuel Pozo Guerrero who will now go down forever in local folklore. In what was a controlling first half performance, despite Lillestrom scoring in the 79th minute, Torreense produced a productive and professional performance. Before the match the Portuguese side were placed 14th in the Liga Portugal 2, they are simply a team who do not know their limits.
The European tour contains some brilliant names, away days to the Rhineland area of Germany for Bayer Leverkusen, Budapest for Ferencavors and Poland for Lech Poznan. The home ties are also a great list of teams; Greek giants Olympiacos, Belgium runners up Union SG, Premier league’s Sunderland & the Armenian side Ararat-Armenia. Unfortunately these games will not be played at the Manuel Marques Stadium. As the aging stadium built in 1925 did not meet UEFA standards therefore these matches will be played at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria. An incredibly unique looking stadium which was remodelled and expanded for the 2004 Euro. The only way in which I can describe the 24,000 seater stadium is that it looks like it has been built by giant colourful lego blocks, an unforgettable trip for the home and away visiting fans.
(Above Manuel Marques Stadium)
What makes this remarkable journey even more fascinating is when you dive deeper into the workings of Toreense football club, particularly the clubs transfer strategy.
Torreense do not pay for new players and this is not an exaggeration but a fact. During the transfer window no money leaves the hands of the Toreense board. Due to the shoe string budget, the club only works with players who are available as free agents or for a loan. Over the past three seasons the club have signed 24 players as free agents and loaned in a total of 13 players. SCU Torreense transfer windows are like playing Football Manager with a handicap.
There is a method to the madness. For a club operating in the second division of Portuguese football they have a very small revenue stream therefore avoiding transfer costs prevents long term debts and payments. The club prioritises development through its youth system and they have a sell on business model. Their greatest financial departure was for Léo Azevedo for €3 million, the fee was entirely profit ready to be reinvested immediately back into the club. For a club with this strategy and with such longevity in the second tier of top flight football it is a remarkable achievement.
The club’s discipline to their philosophy is finally bearing its rewards. This week the club announced the renovation project for the Manuel Marques Stadium. The modernisation of the ground combined with the 4,000 increase in capacity with the addition of commercial opportunities within the stadium, symbolises a new chapter in the club’s history. With the guaranteed baseline participation fee for being in the Europa League at approximately €4.3 million. The future is looking bright for the club and with recent history in cup competitions that figure may rise if they make it through to the next round.
It has been a heart warming tale of a community based club hidden in the footballing shadows for so long, who finally have their chance to shine. I’m personally looking forward to following their journey this season and others to come.
