Sporting Clube de Portugal[1] is a professional futsal club part of the Sporting CPsports club. Based in Lisbon, the section was founded in 1985, and began playing in the newly created Portuguese First division in 1990. As inaugural winners 1990-91 season, they are the most decorated team in Portugal and a founding member of Portuguese Futsal, having won the UEFA Futsal Champions League two times.
Sporting have made the last 14 Portuguese National Futsal finals and winning 11, with the club winning 3 straight Portuguese championships in 1993-95, 2016-18 and another 3 straight tiles in 2021-23, making it their third three peat in their history. The 2023-24 season, Sporting added a fourth straight championship making it the quadruple in a row and the club’s 19th championship overall.
In addition, they have also won 4 Taças de Honra, 5 Campeonatos da AF Lisboa and 5 Taças Comunicação Social, with a total of 14 regional titles.
History
Futsal was introduced in Sporting Clube de Portugal in 1985. As a founding member of the first Portuguese League Championship in 1991, Sporting won the league for its first success and inaugural season of Futsal first division. Sporting's first hat trick of came in 1993-95 and from there on started becoming a dominant force as years progressed and have forged a bitter rivalry with their cross town rivals S.L. Benfica. Just like in Football, matches between these two teams is the main highlight of the Portuguese Futsal in all competitions and known as the Lisbon Derby.
In 1995, Sporting fans were forced to choose the modalities to keep in the club, due to financial problems, having chosen handball and futsal, leading to the closure of the basketball, hockey and volleyball sections (which have all returned in the meantime).
In 2002, futsal is officially adopted by UEFA and the UEFA Futsal Cup was created. This first edition was played in Lisbon and organized by Sporting Clube de Portugal, which represented the country as national champion and reached the semi-finals. The 2014-15 edition was also held in Lisbon with Sporting CP once again reaching the final four.
In 2019, Sporting CP won their first UEFA Futsal Champions League after defeating tournament hosts Kairat Almaty by 2-1. In 2021, Sporting CP won their second Futsal Champions League title defeating FC Barcelona 4-3 in Zadar, Croatia. In the 2020-21 season Sporting won its 16th Portuguese First Division Title, beating their eternal rivals Benfica 3-1 at Pavilhão Fidelidade, thus completing the quadruple for the calendar season (minus the Portuguese Cup: cancelled due to Covid-19) and extending Sportings' hegemony in Portuguese futsal.
Domestically and Internationally Sporting is currently the most decorated team in Portugal, with a total of 47 trophies: 19 Portuguese League titles, 9 Portuguese Cups, 6 League Cups, 11 Super Cups and 2 UEFA Futsal Champions League. Overall, Sporting holds the record for all five major competitions listed then any other Portuguese Futsal team and are seen as the greatest team of the modern era.
Facilities
Pavilhão João Rocha
Pavilhão João Rocha is a multi-sports pavilion located in the parish of Lumiar, in Lisbon. Located next to the Estádio José Alvalade, it is the home of Sporting CP sports. In honor of one of the most distinguished figures in the history of Sporting, the pavilion was named after former club president, João Rocha, who remained in office from September 1973 to October 1986. Its inauguration took place on the day June 21, 2017.
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