Varzim
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- Portugal Segunda Liga 252 Portugal Liga 3 92 Portugal Cup 28 Portugal League Cup 15 Club Friendly List 6
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Wikipedia - Varzim S.C.
Varzim Sport Club (Portuguese pronunciation: [vɐɾˈzĩ sɨˈpɔɾ ˈkluβɨ]) is a Portuguese football club based in Póvoa de Varzim. The club was founded on 25 December 1915, and has played at the Estádio do Varzim Sport Club since its foundation. The club plays in Liga 3, following relegation in the 2021–22 Liga Portugal 2. The club has played for a total of 21 seasons at the top level of Portuguese football, eight seasons in a row from 1963. It has reached the semi-finals of the Taça de Portugal on three occasions, in 1978, 1980 and 1985.
Varzim has won six major titles in its history, which include the Segunda Divisão four times and the Terceira Divisão and Liga Intercalar once. The club usually plays with over 70% of players from its youth ranks. The club youth academy is notable for producing Portuguese international footballers like António Lima Pereira, Bruno Alves, Hélder Postiga and Salvador Agra.
History
The club was founded on 25 December 1915 under the name Varzim Foot-Ball Club. On 25 March 1916, the club approved a motion to change its name to Varzim Sport Club. Following the name change, black and white were chosen as the colours for the club's kits in all sports. In 1918, the club joined the Porto Football Association, where it officially became recognised as a club and started to compete in the city's football league. In 1920, the club won its first trophy, the Taça Eça de Queiroz.
Following several seasons playing in the amateur leagues, the club gained promotion to the top-flight Primeira Liga in 1963, where it remained for 13 seasons before being relegated. Since then, the club has suffered mixed results after several promotions and relegations. In the club's most recent history, it suffered relegation in the 2010–11 Liga de Honra to the non-professional leagues for the first time in 15 years.
Varzim won the Segunda Divisão in the 2011–12 season. It started its campaign in the II Divisão Zona Norte 2011–12, where it won the league comprehensively with 68 points, 14 more than the second-placed Fafe. In topping the group, the club qualified for the playoffs where two of the three sides would be promoted to the Liga de Honra. It fought off competition from Tondela and Fátima to finish top of the group and claim its fourth Segunda Divisão title. Midfielder André André was praised for his displays for the club in which he scored 12 goals in 33 appearances during the season.
Varzim did not compete in the 2012–13 Segunda Liga season as they did not pay the €600,000 registration fee. They remained in the third tier until earning promotion in June 2015 with a 3–1 aggregate play-off win over Casa Pia. Varzim remained in the second division until May 2022, when they were relegated in second-last above Académica de Coimbra.
The team has experienced various successes throughout its history, including multiple stints in the Primeira Liga, Portugal's top football division, as well as notable performances in the lower leagues. Varzim is known for its strong youth academy, which has produced several talented players who have gone on to achieve success in both domestic and international football.
The club enjoys a passionate fan base that supports the team through thick and thin, creating an electric atmosphere during home games. Varzim's commitment to community engagement and local development further solidifies its status as a beloved institution in Póvoa de Varzim and Portuguese football as a whole. With a focus on teamwork, resilience, and a strong sense of identity, Varzim continues to strive for success on the pitch while honoring its storied legacy.