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F.C. Arouca

Football club

Arouca

Full name	Futebol Clube de Arouca
Nickname(s)	Arouquenses, Lobos (Wolves)
Founded	25 December 1951; 72 years ago (1951-12-25)
Ground	Estádio Municipal
Capacity	5,000
Chairman	Carlos Pinho
Manager	Gonzalo García
League	Primeira Liga
2023–24	Primeira Liga, 7th of 18
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Futebol Clube de Arouca (pronounced [ɐˈɾokɐ]) is a professional football club based in Arouca, a town and a municipality in the Metropolitan Area of Porto, in the Norte RegionofPortugal and in the Aveiro District. Founded in 1951, the club plays in the Primeira Liga, holding home games at Estádio Municipal de Arouca, with a 5,000-seat capacity.

Founded on 25 December 1951, as a FC Porto subsidiary,^[1] Arouca spent the first five decades of its existence in the Aveiro regional leagues. In only two years (2006–08) it managed to reach the third division, being managed by television (RTP) presenter Jorge Gabriel for a few months during that timeframe.^[2]

Arouca managed its fourth promotion in only seven years at the end of 2012–13, reaching the Primeira Liga for the first time in its history.^[3][4] Subsequently, the Arouca Municipality awarded the club the Medal of Gold Merit for its achievement,^[5] with the organization also being granted extra financial means to renovate and expand its stadium.^[6]

In2015–16 under Lito Vidigal, Arouca finished a best-ever fifth place, qualifying for the first time to the UEFA Europa League.^[7] After beating Heracles Almelo of the Netherlands on the away goals rule, they lost the play-off 3–1 after extra time to OlympiacosofGreece.^[8] A year after their peak finish, Arouca were relegated, ending their four years at the top.^[9]

A two-year spell in the second division for Arouca ended in May 2019 when on the last day of the season, they lost to U.D. Oliveirense and Varzim S.C. defeated Académica de Coimbra; this ended nine years in the professional leagues.^[10] The 2019–20 season was truncated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Arouca and Vizela were due to be promoted because of their final position; competitors Olhanense successfully appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport for these promotions to be suspended.^[11]

As of 31 May 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  POR João Valido 2 MF  GUI Morlaye Sylla 5 MF  POR David Simão (captain) 6 DF  BRA Quaresma 7 FW  NGA Yusuf Lawal 8 MF  CIV Eboue Kouassi 9 FW  URU Alfonso Trezza 10 FW  ESP Jason 11 FW  ESP Miguel Puche 13 DF  URU Matías Rocha 14 MF  ESP Uri Busquets 15 FW  BLR Vladislav Morozov 16 GK  BRA Thiago Silva 20 MF  POR Pedro Moreira

No. Pos. Nation Player 23 FW  ESP Cristo 25 DF  ALG Yanis Hamache 26 DF  BRA Weverson 28 DF  POR Tiago Esgaio 43 MF  BRA Vitinho 44 DF  CRO Nino Galović 89 MF  POR Pedro Santos — GK  GER Nico Mantl — DF  POR Alex Pinto — DF  ESP José Fontán — DF  POR Chico Lamba — MF  ESP Pablo Gozálbez — MF  JPN Taichi Fukui (on loan from Bayern Munich II) — FW  POR Henrique Araújo

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  GHA Jerome Opoku (atİstanbul Başakşehir until 30 June 2024)

As of 6 October 2021

Rank	Player	Penalties	Goals
1	Oday Dabbagh	0	4
	André Bukia	0	3
2	André Silva	0	2
	João Basso	2	2
	Arsénio	0	2
3	Antony	0	1
	Leandro Silva	0	1
	Pité	0	1
	Eboué Kouassi	0	1

Francisco Batista (2001–2002)

Artur Quaresma (2003 – June 2004)

Vasco Coelho (1 July 2004 – 1 November 2004)

Rui Correia (1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007)

Jorge Gabriel (1 July 2007 – 4 February 2008)

José Pedro (4 February 2008 – 30 June 2009)

Carlos Secretário (1 July 2009 – 7 December 2009)

Henrique Nunes (9 December 2009 – 20 September 2011)

Vítor Oliveira (21 September 2011 – 30 June 2013)

Pedro Emanuel (1 July 2013 – 25 May 2015)

Lito Vidigal (1 July 2015 – 11 February 2017)

Manuel Machado (11 February 2017 – 21 March 2017)

Jorge Leitão (22 March 2017 – 30 June 2017)

Jorge Costa (1 July 2017 – 14 September 2017)

Miguel Leal (15 September 2017 – 26 September 2018)

Quim Machado (27 September 2018 – 30 June 2019)

Henrique Nunes (1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020)

Armando Evangelista (1 July 2020 – 11 June 2023)

Daniel Ramos (1 July 2023 – 15 November 2023)

Daniel Sousa (15 November 2023 – 19 May 2024)

Gonzalo García (21 May 2024 – present)

• Segunda Divisão
  • 2009–10
• Terceira Divisão
  • 2007–08
• Aveiro Regional League
  • 2006–07, 2002–03

Last updated: 10 November 2023

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2016–17	UEFA Europa League	3Q	Heracles Almelo	0–0	1–1	1–1 (a)
		PO	Olympiacos	0–1	1–2 (a.e.t.)	1–3
2023–24	UEFA Europa Conference League	3Q	Brann	2–1	1–3	3–4

Notes

• 3Q: Third qualifying round
• PO: Play-off

• Official website (in Portuguese)
• Zerozero team profile

40°55′58.350″N 8°15′1.246″W / 40.93287500°N 8.25034611°W / 40.93287500; -8.25034611