Handball in Portugal – ComUM
ABC/UMinho is the only Minho representative in the Campeonato Placard Handebol 1.
Ande is one of the sports that has the most temporary example in Portugal and which are the most recent initiatives of the Portuguese National Team, in international countries. The quinas class was present in the last edition of the World Championship, in the last two of the European Championship and also played in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.
As far as the Portuguese championship is concerned, it was in 1951 that the first edition of the competition was held. Now with the name of Handball Championship Scoreboard 1, the Portuguese first division is made up of 14 clubs. At the end of the last one to the first of two seasons, it gave two equipment (from 16 to 14 to 14). This season, the second will take place and, in 2023/24, there will be only 12 teams competing for the highest level of national handball.
Contrary to what exists in other modalities, such as Roller Hockey or Basketball, in Handball there is no Play-Off to determine the championship. However, what exists is a relegation Play-Off. The ten first classified guarantee the maintenance in the championship and the last two descend of division. The champion of the Segunda Liga is also guaranteed a place in the competition. The last vacancy is disputed, in a Play-Off to teams, between the 11th and 12th classified of the Primeira Liga, three classified with the second group of the second division.
In historical terms, FC Porto and Sporting CP categorically dominate Portuguese Handball. Of the more than 70 championships already held, the dragons have won 23 and the lions have won 21. In addition to these two emblems, another six have also become national handball champions. ABC/UMinho won 13 championships, six more than SL Benfica and eight more than CF Os Belenenses. Completing the list of winners (São Bernardo2), SC Salgueiros (1) and Madeira SAD (1).
However, the list of champions is not so linear. In 2002, the Portuguese Handball League and the Portuguese Handball Federation came into conflict. The result of this divergence culminated in the creation of the Elite Division, by the Federation. However, between 2002 and 2006, there were two national championships and, consequently, two national champions per year. During this period, two teams won the Elite Division. São Bernardo won twice and Sporting CP two others. The achievement of this competition is valid, with regard to the historical record of national champions of Handball.
In addition to Placard Handebol 1, there is the Portuguese Cup and the Handball Super Cup. The last editions were won by Sporting CP and SL Benfica, respectively. The lions are the biggest winners of the Portuguese Cup, with 16 trophies won. ABCUMinho is the second largest holder of Cups in Portugal, with 12 in the history. FC Porto won the competition nine times, more than SL Benfica and five more than CF Os Belenenses. Xico Handball (1), Águas Santas (1) and Madeira SAD (1) also lifted the Cup.
In the Supercup, the biggest winner is FC Porto. The blue and white team won eight trophies. SL Benfica and ABC/UMinho won seven times each. Sporting failed to prove itself by more winning occasions, recording more of the competition.
With regard to international competitions, three Portuguese teams have already won the European Handball League, formerly the Challenge Cup. SL Benfica won the last edition of the competition, in 2022. However, two other Portuguese emblems have already won the competition. Sporting won 2010 and 201 and ABC/UMinho CP7 in 2010 and 201 winner.
With all this, and taking into account its extensive history, it is easy to see that ABC/UMinho is the great Minho power in handball. Braga were founded in 1933 and, since then, they have won 13 national championships, 12 Portuguese Cups and seven Super Cups. However, the last title of the Minho was won in 2017 and ABC/UMinho has been going through a lesser period of its history since then. Last season, Braga’s team finished tenth in the championship. The historic Minho club has not finished in the top five since 2018.
The Placard Handball 1 Championship starts this Saturday. In the first round of the competition, ABC/UMinho will face FC Gaia, away from home. The duel starts at 18:00, at the Pavilion Futebol Clube de Gaia.
Record further: Roller Hockey in Portugal