Setúbal Football: Vitória and the District Derbies

Vitória FC is not just a football club — it is an institution of Setúbal’s urban identity. Founded in 1910, three Portuguese Cups, European victories over Liverpool and Inter Milan — and a fall to the sixth tier in 2024. The VIII Exército supporters’ group is the oldest organised claque in Portugal.

Vitória Futebol Clube

Foundation

Vitória Futebol Clube was founded on 20 November 1910 as Victória Foot-Ball Club, growing from the earlier Bonfim Foot-Ball Club. Colours: green-and-white vertical stripes (adopted by 1912). Nicknames: Os Sadinos (from the River Sado) and O Velho Senhor (“The Old Gentleman”). Motto: “A Vitória será nossa” — “Victory shall be ours”.

Early 20th-century Setúbal was a fishing and industrial city, the third largest in Portugal by population. Its working-class port economy deeply shaped the club’s identity and its fan base.

Estádio do Bonfim

Estádio do Bonfim — the club’s ground, opened in 1962. Capacity: 15,497 seats (after terrace conversion). Located less than a kilometre from the railway station and the historic centre. It has not undergone major renovation since the 1960s. A statue of Jacinto João — the club’s greatest ever player — stands outside the stadium.

Honours

Vitória also won the Taça Ibérica (2005) and Troféu Ibérico (1968, 1974).

The golden decade (1964–1974)

The club’s finest era is linked to manager José Maria Pedroto. Key results:

• 1971–72 — 2nd place in the Primeira Divisão (the club’s best-ever league finish), unbeaten away from home all season
• 1973–74 — 3rd place, just 4 points behind champions Sporting

European campaigns

The Liverpool match (1969–70)

One of the most famous matches in the club’s history:

• First leg (Setúbal): Vitória 1–0 Liverpool. Goal: Tomé (40')
• Second leg (Anfield): Liverpool 3–2 Vitória. Aggregate 3–3 — Vitória through on the away-goals rule

Bill Shankly’s side, featuring Tommy Smith and Roger Hunt, were knocked out by a club from a fishing town in southern Portugal.

Club legends

Jacinto João (“JJ”)

The greatest player in Vitória’s history. 14 seasons at the club: 268 appearances, 66 goals. 10 caps for Portugal (debut October 1968), 2 goals. A statue stands in his honour near the Bonfim. He died in 2004 — the entire city of Setúbal mourned.

Vítor Baptista (1948–1999)

Started as an electrician and joined Vitória aged 13. Scored 33 Primeira Liga goals in his last two seasons at the club. In 1971 he moved to Benfica for a record 3,000,000 escudos plus 3 players (including José Torres). Won 5 league titles with Benfica. Scored in European competition at both Bonfim and Elland Road. In 1978, he demanded a pay rise and a new Porsche — the club offered only the Porsche — and he returned to Vitória.

José Torres (1938–2010)

“O Bom Gigante” — “The Gentle Giant”. Main career at Benfica: 13 trophies, top scorer in the 1962–63 league (26 goals in 21 matches). A 1966 World Cup participant (3rd place with Portugal, 3 goals). Moved to Vitória in 1971 as part of the Baptista exchange. Later managed Portugal at the 1986 World Cup.

Fan culture

VIII Exército — Portugal’s oldest claque

VIII Exército (“The Eighth Army”) is the oldest organised supporter group in Portugal. Origin of the name: season 1942–43, the Taça de Portugal final against Benfica at Campo das Salesianas in Lisbon. Thousands of fans travelled from Setúbal — by car, bicycle, even on horseback. Their fervour was compared to the British Eighth Army that had routed Rommel at El Alamein (23 October 1942).

Ultras Grupo 1910

Founded 16 July 2012. The name references the club’s founding year. Both VIII Exército and Grupo 1910 are registered with the APCVD (the Portuguese authority for the prevention of violence in sport) and have signed a collaboration protocol with the club.

Social role

During the club’s financial crisis, the claques delivered food and essential goods to club employees — a rare example of social responsibility among ultras groups.

Crisis and fall (2020–2025)

Administrative relegation

In the 2019–20 season, Vitória narrowly avoided relegation from the Primeira Liga. However, due to a financial crisis and unpaid wages, the club failed to obtain a licence for the following season. Vitória was administratively relegated to the Campeonato de Portugal (3rd tier).

• Club debt: EUR 21.3 million
• SAD debt: EUR 40 million (the SAD was liquidated)

Descent to the sixth tier

After three seasons in the Campeonato de Portugal — sporting relegation. In 2024, the Liga 3 licence was denied on financial grounds. July 2024: Vitória registered for the 2nd Division of the Setúbal District — the sixth level of Portuguese football.

Season 2024–25

Even at the sixth tier, the club “creates a Primeira Liga atmosphere at the district level” (RTP). Vitória became champions — 80 points, 17 consecutive wins — and secured promotion to the 1st District Division.

Other clubs in the district

GD Fabril do Barreiro

Founded 27 January 1937 as the sports club of CUF (Companhia União Fabril) — Barreiro’s largest industrial conglomerate. After the Carnation Revolution, CUF was nationalised and the club renamed GD Fabril. Spent 22 consecutive seasons in the top flight (1953–1975).

FC Barreirense

Founded 11 April 1911. Best finish: 4th place in the Primeira Divisão (1969–70). Played in the 1970–71 Fairs Cup (beat Dinamo Zagreb 2–0 at home). The Barreiro derby — FC Barreirense vs GD Fabril — is a historic local rivalry.

Amora FC

Founded 1 May 1921 (Amora, municipality of Seixal). Spent 3 seasons in the Primeira Liga (1980–83). At their home ground, Campo da Medideira, only Vitória and Sporting managed to win.

Vitória vs Sporting: province against capital

The rivalry with Lisbon’s Sporting CP is Vitória’s most traditional. It embodies a province-vs-capital dynamic: historically, Lisbon clubs refused to play in Setúbal, forcing Vitória to travel to Lisbon. In response, Vitória left the Lisbon Football Association and co-founded the AF Setúbal — the Setúbal Football Association — a symbol of its pursuit of autonomy.

The pinnacle: the 2008 Taça da Liga final — Vitória 0–0 (3–2 on pens) Sporting CP. Goalkeeper Eduardo saved 3 penalties. It was the first ever edition of Portugal’s League Cup.

See also

• The Canning Industry of Setúbal
• The Carnation Revolution in Setúbal
• Setúbal as a Creative City