União Desportiva de Leiria (), commonly known as União de Leiria, is a Portuguese professional football club based in Leiria. Founded on 6 June 1966, it currently plays in the Liga Portugal 2, holding home matches at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, with a 23,888-seat capacity.
History In 1979–80, the club first competed in the top division, finishing in 13th position and being relegated.
On 16 April 2001, the club appointed former Benfica manager José Mourinho on a two-year contract. In January 2002, having taken the team as high as third, he departed for Porto. His successor Mário Reis resigned after five games, having lost four, and the team concluded the season in seventh under Vítor Pontes.
The club lost the 2003 Taça de Portugal final to Mourinho's Porto, with the only goal coming from ex-União de Leiria striker Derlei. As the northern club had won the double of league and cup, União de Leiria were their opponents in the 2003 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira on 10 August, with the same scoreline.
União de Leiria reached the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup final with Lille. After goalless draws in France and at home, the team lost 0–2 in extra time on 24 August. Three years later, the club won the same event with a 4–1 second-leg win over Serbia's Hajduk Kula reversing a 1–0 away loss. After defeating Israel's Maccabi Netanya by a single goal in the qualifying round, the club took on Bayer Leverkusen in the first round of the UEFA Cup, losing 5–4 on aggregate with a 3–2 home win in the second leg.
In 2007–08, the club was relegated to the second level, after finishing last; it was additionally involved in the Apito Dourado scandal. The team would be immediately promoted back, coming in second after champions Olhanense.
The 2011–12 season was lived amongst serious financial difficulties, with the squad not being paid their wages for several months,João Bartolomeu: "Se não conseguirmos pagar aos jogadores, paciência" (João Bartolomeu: "If we can't pay the players, tough luck") ; Relvado, 9 December 2011 ; SAPO Desporto, 9 December 2011 as three coaching moves also happened during the campaignUniao de Leiria swap coaches... again ; PortuGOAL, 26 September 2011Cajuda out, Dominguez in at Leiria ; PortuGOAL, 14 March 2012 and president João Bartolomeu resigned amongst accusations of ingratitude towards the players.João Bartolomeu demitiu-se: "São 25 anos a aturar isto" (João Bartolomeu resigned: "It's 25 years putting up with this") ; Diário de Notícias, 13 April 2012 On 29 April 2012, after most of the squad rescinded their contracts, only eight players took the pitch for the league match at home against Feirense in an eventual 0–4 home loss.Situação leiriense correu o Mundo (Leiriense plight talked abroad) ; Record, 30 April 2012 The side played the last two matches, against Benfica and Nacional, with a complete team, but three players came from the juniors.Benfica-U. Leiria, 1–0 (crónica) (Benfica-U. Leiria, 1–0 (report)) ; Mais Futebol, 5 May 2012 U. Leiria-Nacional, 2–3 (destaques) (U. Leiria-Nacional, 2–3 (highlights)) ; Mais Futebol, 12 May 2012 After failing to meet the deadline to register the team in Division Two, Leiria were automatically relegated to the third level.U.Leiria fora dos Campeonatos profissionais (U. Leiria out of professional competitions) ; Record, 25 May 2012 Overwhelmed with the task of rebuilding a squad from scratch, the organization hired several players in an attempt to return to the professionals,Reforços para Leiria SAD (Reinforcements for Leiria SAD); O Derbie, 7 August 2012 Duo no Leiria (Duo joins Leiria); O Derbie, 25 August 2012 ; SAPO Desporto, 24 July 2012 as a second senior team also begun competing in the Leiria regional leagues, coached by former club player Luís Bilro.Clube inscreve equipa nas distritais (Club signs team in regional divisions) ; SAPO Desporto, 19 June 2012 On 28 June 2013, the UD Leiria SAD was declared bankrupt in a meeting of creditors, which demanded the payment of a debt amounting to €13.5 million, with the Portuguese state abstaining for demanding a debt of over €3.6 million. The second senior team that competed in the regional league took the place of the SAD by buying their sports rights for €1,000, with the club returning to the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa after playing their home matches at other grounds for two seasons.
In February 2015, at an extraordinary general assembly, UD Leiria would vote for the creation of another SAD, opening doors to the arrival of Alexander Tolstikov, who after João Bartolomeu would become the new "Lord" of Leiria. The club would have already had a SAD between 1999 and 2013, having been extinguished in the face of its high debt value. The SAD's initial share capital is 40% owned by UD Leiria and 60% owned by DS Investment LLP, of which Alexander Tolstikov is one of those responsible. Thus, DS Investment started to control the main football team and also the junior team.
In October 2020, after a vote at a general meeting, the members approved the entry of a new investor into the club's SAD: Armando Marques, a former director of Vitória de Guimarães. Furthermore, they waived their right of first refusal in the sale of 60% of DS Investment LLP, a company owned by Alexander Tolstikov, leading to their departure from the SAD structure.
In 2022–23, the club won Liga 3 and promotion to Liga Portugal 2. The team defeated Belenenses 1–0 at the Estádio Nacional to return to professional leagues for the first time since 2012.
Stadium
The Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa was built for UEFA Euro 2004 in 2003, hosting during the competition Croatia's matches against Switzerland (0–0) and France (2–2). It also hosted the 2006 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira final between FC Porto and Vitória de Setúbal, as well as the following (Sporting CP 1–0 Porto).
The architect who designed the stadium was Tomás Taveira, who also designed stadiums for Euro 2004, including Beira-Mar's Estádio Municipal de Aveiro and Sporting CP's Estádio José Alvalade. The grounds belong to the municipality of Leiria.
Due to an excessive rent, Leiria relocated to the Estádio Municipal in the nearby town of Marinha Grande, for 2011–12. For the following season, the club moved to Campo da Portela in Santa Catarina da Serra, home of U.D. Serra.U. Leiria SAD jogará no Campo da Portela (U. Leiria SAD will play in Campo da Portela); O Derbie, 1 August 2012
After the SAD bankruptcy, the club returned to play its home matches at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa.
Fans União's fans are called Leirienses or Unionistas, and their main group of supporters is Armata Ultra ("Armata Ultra").
Leiria's biggest rivals are Beira-Mar, Associação Naval 1º de Maio and Académica de Coimbra, which belong to the same geographical region. Players
Current squad
Managers
Vieira Nunes (1989–90) Luís Campos (1992–93) Manuel Cajuda (1993–94) Vitor Manuel (1994–96) Eurico Gomes (1996) Quinito (1996–97) Vitor Manuel (1997) Vítor Oliveira (1997–98) Mário Reis (1998–99) Manuel José (1999–01) José Mourinho (2001–02) Mário Reis (2002) Vítor Pontes (2002) Manuel Cajuda (2002–03) Vítor Pontes (2003–05) José Manuel Gomes (2005) Jorge Jesus (2005–06) Domingos (2006–07) Paulo Duarte (2007) Vítor Oliveira (2007–08) Paulo Alves (2008) Manuel Fernandes (2008–09) Lito Vidigal (2009–10) Pedro Caixinha (2010–11) Vítor Pontes (2011) Manuel Cajuda (2011–12) José Dominguez (2012) Ricardo Moura (2012–2013) Luis Bilro (2012–2013) Rui Rodrigues (2013–2014) Jorge Casquilha (2014–2016) Siarhei Kabelski (2016) Kata (2016–2017) Serghei Cleșcenco (2017) Rui Amorim (2017–2018) Luís Pinto (2018) Tiago Vicente (2018) Filipe Cândido (2018–2020) Carlos Delgado (2020) Hélder Pereira (2020–2021) Filipe Cândido (2021) Bino (2021–2022) Vasco Botelho da Costa (2022–2024) Filipe Cândido (2024–present)
Honours Segunda Divisão/Liga Portugal 2: 1980–81, 1997–98 Liga 3: 2022–23 UEFA Intertoto Cup co-winners: 2007. Listed are all 11 teams that won the Intertoto Cup, qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
Other notable results UEFA Intertoto Cup finalist: 2004 Taça de Portugal runners-up: 2002–03 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira runners-up: 2003
League and cup history Season I II III IV V Pts MP W D L GF GA ± Taça de Portugal2025–26650 pts341311105246 +61/4final2024–25652 pts34157124937 +121/32 final2023–241242 pts34119144440 +41/4 final2022–23162 pts2820265726 +311/64 final2021–22458 pts2817744723 +241/32 final2020–21454 pts2716654119 +221/16 final2019–201229 pts2561182724 +31/64 final2018–19375 pts3424375924 +351/64 final2017–18373 pts3023436821 +471/16 final2016–17371 pts3222555619 +371/32 final2015–16564 pts32181045221 +311/64 final2014–15355 pts3016775735 +221/64 final2013–14359 pts3217874333+101/32 final2012–13746 pts30137103631+51/16 final2011–121619 pts3054212556-311/32 final2010–111035 pts3098132538-131/32 final2009–101035 pts3098133541-61/16 final2008–09254 pts3015964629+171/32 final2007–081616 pts3037202553-281/16 final2006–07741 pts30101192426-21/16 final2005–06747 pts34138134442+21/32 final2004–051538 pts34814122936-71/16 final2003–041045 pts341112114345-21/8 final2002–03549 pts341310114947+2Final2001–02755 pts34151095235+171/32 final2000–01556 pts34151184641+51/16 final1999–20001042 pts341012123135-41/16 final1998–99652 pts341410103629+71/8 final1997–98170 pts34201047332+411/2 final1996–971730 pts3486202553-281/32 final1995–96747 pts34135153850-121/2 final1994–95636 pts341310114144-31/16 final1993–94245 pts3419784619+271/32 final1992–93834 pts34138133637-11/16 final1991–92835 pts34139123432+21/32 final1990–91941 pts381413114535+101/32 final1989–90349 pts3420956118+431/32 final1988–891031 pts34913124244-21/64 final1987–88447 pts38181196443+211/8 final1986–871227 pts30107132839-111/64 final1985–86928 pts30108123349-161/64 final1984–85241 pts3017764227+251/64 final1983–84928 pts30108123525+101/64 final1982–83344 pts30171034417+271/64 final1981–821620 pts3084182550-251/16 final1980–81145 pts3019745621+351/8 final1979–801321 pts3069152649-231/32 final1978–79146 pts3020645620+361/64 final1977–78830 pts30118113442-81/16 final1976–771128 pts30108122631-51/64 final1975–761634 pts381112154252-101/16 final1974–751334 pts381210165056-61/128 final1973–74741 pts38169135249+31/64 final1972–73539 pts3017585027+231/32 final1971–72335 pts3014795029+211/16 final1970–71330 pts2611874034+61/64 final1969–70148 pts3020827016+541/128 final1968–69231 pts2215165420+341/32 final1967–68212 pts10523159+6-1966–67116 pts10721219+12-I - 1.ª Liga; II - 2.ª Liga; III - Campeonato Nacional de Séniores/Liga 3; IV - AF Leiria - Divisão de Honra/Campeonato Nacional de Séniores; V - AF Leiria 1ª Divisão/AF Leiria - Divisão de Honra;
European record União de Leiria always presented as home score (left) in results shown Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Agg.1995-96 1995 UEFA Intertoto CupGS(Gr.4) Békéscsaba 1912 Előre2-22nd Næstved1-1 Ton Pentre3−0 Heerenveen1−02002-032002 UEFA Intertoto CupR1 FCI Levadia Tallinn0-3 2-12-42003-042003-04 UEFA CupQR Coleraine5-01-26-2R1 Molde1-01-32-32004-052004 UEFA Intertoto CupR3 Shinnik Yaroslavl2-14-16-2SF Genk2-00-02-0Finals Lille0-2 (a.e.t.)0-00-22005-062005 UEFA Intertoto CupR1 Hamburg0-1 0-30-42007-082007 UEFA Intertoto CupR3 Hajduk Kula4-1(a.e.t.)0-14-22007–08 UEFA CupQR2 Maccabi Netanya0-01-01-0R1 Bayer Leverkusen3-21-34-5
Notes
References
External links