A brief history lesson about football in Portugal
As you may already have, today’s theme is football. And in Portugal, football is important!
There are times when the country seems to simply stop because of a football game and regardless of the age of the fan of the sport, football seems to fascinate the entire population.
In Portugal, even the smallest town will probably have a football team. Otherwise, there would be one in the next town. And there has to be, because it seems that every boy or girl is born with a ball at their feet. So you better have a place to practice, right?
In this sense, in this article we approach the Portuguese passion for sport and a little of its origins. How did it come to be? We started from the beginning.
A brief history lesson about football in Portugal
More than 100 years ago, football began to grow in Portugal. Football clubs started popping up all over this country. And the more they played it, the more they loved the game.
In the late 19th and early 19th century FC Porto, three major sports clubs: CP and SL Benfica. You’ve probably heard of them at least, especially when you consider that in Portugal they are known as the “Big Three”.
There are reasons for them to call it that. These are the clubs with the most financial power, the most titles and the most history. But the biggest reason of all the abilities these clubs have is to unite as their masses of support and get their love and fidelity.
The love for these clubs (by the way) and other domestic habits and traditions that can be seen in the opinion of someone from abroad, but they make perfect sense to us, but they make perfect sense to us.
The creation of the Football League in Portugal
The “Primeira Liga” is a name that was first used in 1934, four years before the official establishment of a national league in Portugal. When in was restructured in 19, the new competition of Nacional was called Division 19 or simply 8 football Championship First Division, a name that 9 first country in use until 19.
Until 1941, only teams from Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra (a little of this history can be found in the Académica de Coimbra museum) and Setúbal participated in the competition. That year, two clubs from Braga and Algarve were supported.
A seat finally gained national character in 1945, when it gained a seat from any region of the First Division, which gained more national character in 1945.
More recently, with the evolution of the Internet and media, competition has affected more channels. In addition to newspapers, specialized online forums, and official YouTube channels about the first league, one of the most recent examples is the same portals specializing in sports betting.
On these sites, users can check different modalities and events, as already mentioned in the first league, consult the game calendars, and review the forecast. football betting in general made by experts with constantly updated information in various categories in the traditional way before the games, as during the game, a modality called “live-betting”.
The “Big Three” of Portugal
As already mentioned, talking about football in Portugal is also talking about the “Big Three”. Whether by passion, birth or even family influences, these will always be the main football teams in Portugal.
SL Benfica
THE benfica was founded in 1904, which makes it one of the oldest clubs in the world. It is also the club with the most titles in Portugal, with more than 80 trophies won.
Like the other two big names mentioned below, Benfica is the team that has never left the Primeira Liga and is constantly fighting at the top of the table.
FC Porto
With 79 trophies, the FC Porto is also one of the most successful clubs in Portugal. It was founded in 1893 and since then it has always been one of the clubs that others look up to.
Sporting CP
Founded by two brothers in 1902, the Sporting CP is one of the most popular football clubs in Portugal. Like its rivals, Sporting won many trophies both nationally and internationally and is particularly known for its formation, with several stars and prizes.
Is there any rivalry between these clubs?
As Portugal’s three biggest outfits have some of the most supportive buyers that you will once know football, which will never be just a sport, will have an emotional side that is almost impossible to explain or put into words.
So when there’s some really important game, especially without being in anymore, but it will always only stay for 90-odd minutes, so as a field rivalry.
The union around the selection!
On the other hand, it plays a bit of rivalry, one thing is for sure: when a Portuguese team plays a great match against a foreign team, everyone will root for the Portuguese team.
There is another time when everyone wears the same cores. can you guess?
No matter when or where the National Team plays, the support is overwhelming. There is something magical that happens and each game of Portuguese hearts simply beats as one. And even more so in large countries.
Indeed, it is with the selection that this article ends. Although in brief lines, the main attractions of this story, which move hearts in Portugal, are presented.