C.D. Nacional

History

Nacional reached the first division for the first time ever with a three-season spell from 1988. Under manager José Peseiro, the team returned for 2002–03 after winning promotion in third place. The team finished comfortably in 11th, with results including a 1–0 home win over S.L. Benfica on 28 September 2002 and a 3–2 win at C.S. Marítimo in the Madeira derby the following 2 February. Peseiro's successor Casemiro Mior took the team to a joint-best 4th place in 2003–04, including another home win over Benfica, shortly after that team had knocked them out of the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal. Stars of this team included Brazilians Paulo Assunção (defensive midfielder) and forward Adriano (16 and 19 goals in respective seasons), both of whom later played for FC Porto.

Nacional's debut European season in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup ended in the first round with a 4–1 aggregate loss to Spain's Sevilla FC. In January 2005, Mior left for Club Athletico Paranaense in his homeland. Manuel Machado led the team to fifth in 2005–06, again reaching the UEFA Cup, but left due to his wife and children living in continental Portugal. The club's second run in European competition again ended at the first hurdle, 3–1 on aggregate to CS Rapid București of Romania.

Under the returning Machado in 2008–09, again edged S.C. Braga for fourth spot. Brazilian forward Nenê earned the Bola da Prata for top scorer with 20 goals, three more than Benfica's Óscar Cardozo and Sporting CP's Liédson. The side also reached the last-four in the Portuguese Cup, losing on aggregate 5–4 to F.C. Paços de Ferreira, with the decider coming at the Estádio da Madeira in the 90th minute.

Nacional started the 2009–10 season without Nenê, who was sold in June to Cagliari Calcio of the Italian Serie A for a fee potentially rising to €10 million. However, in August the club won a European tie for the first time, defeating 2008 champions FC Zenit Saint Petersburg 5–4 on aggregate in the playoffs of the renamed UEFA Europa League; the team were heading out on the away goals rule until a last-minute goal from youngster Rúben Micael earned a 1–1 draw in Russia. Nacional were eliminated in the group stage, third behind SV Werder Bremen and Athletic Bilbao but ahead of FK Austria Wien. In 2010–11, former club players Predrag Jokanović and Ivo Vieira led the team to 6th and a European return, as well as the semi-finals of the Taça da Liga for the first time (at Porto's expense), losing 4–3 to Paços de Ferreira. In the following season, following Europa League playoff elimination by Birmingham City, the team made the national cup semi-finals again, losing 5–3 on aggregate to Sporting.

In his fourth of five spells as Nacional manager, Machado led the team to 5th in 2013–14, making the Europa League playoffs and falling at the first hurdle 5–2 on aggregate to FC Dinamo Minsk of Belarus. In the 2014–15 Taça de Portugal they made a third semi-final in seven years, again losing to Sporting. The 2016–17 season, which included Jokanović's fourth spell as manager, ended with relegation in last place, a conclusion to 15 years in the top flight.

Former Portugal international Costinha was hired in 2017 and won promotion at the first attempt as champions of the 2017–18 LigaPro; Cape Verde international striker Ricardo Gomes was the league's top scorer with 22 goals in 36 games and left the club for FK Partizan in Serbia at the end of his contract. Costinha left after relegation from the 2018–19 Primeira Liga, in which results included a 10–0 loss to eventual winners Benfica.

The 2019–20 LigaPro was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal, resulting in promotion for first-placed Nacional; it was the sixth promotion in the career of 34-year-old manager Luís Freire. The team were immediately relegated in last place, with Freire sacked in March 2021 and Machado seeing out the season in his fifth spell. The team reached the semi-finals of the 2022–23 Taça de Portugal, losing 7–2 on aggregate to Braga, while the league season went to the final day; a 3–2 home win over Académico de Viseu F.C. after losing at half time saved the team in 14th place while B-SAD took the relegation playoff position.

After 13 seasons with Hummel, the team announced its new partnership with Kappa ahead of the 2025–26 season.

Club presidents

• António Ascensão Figueira (1910–1926)
• Ernesto Pelágio dos Santos (1926–1932)
• António Caldeira (1932–1936)
• Dr. Consuelo Figueira (1936–1940)
• Luís Lopes Serrão (1940–1944)
• Dr. Daniel Brazão Machado (1944–1948)
• Dr. José Telentino Costa César Abreu (1954–1958)
• Dr. António Manuel Sales Caldeira (1958–1964)
• Fernando Pereira Rebelo (1964–1965)
• Luís Lopes Serrão (1966–1969)
• Antonio Manuel Sales Caldeira (1969–1973)
• Nélio Jorge Ferraz Mendonça (1973–1993)
• Dr. Fausto Pereira (1993–1994)
• Eng. Rui António Macedo Alves (1994–2014)
• João Gris Teixeira (2014–2015)
• Eng. Rui António Macedo Alves (2015–Present)

Stadium

Main article: Estádio da Madeira

The Estádio da Madeira, better known as the Choupana, houses Nacional. The current stadium is located around nearby training pitches. The club also built an academy campus in the name of its most famous player, Cristiano Ronaldo. The stadium was renovated in 2007, with a new stand added and also capacity increased to 5,200 spectators. The total price of the renovations was €23 million.

In these new facilities, no stands were put behind the goals, with a tall fence used in its place. In mid-2007, the stadium name was changed to Estádio da Madeira, because of the excellent sports facilities.

Rivalry

Main article: Madeira derby

Nacional has a big rivalry with Madeira-neighbours Marítimo. Historically, Marítimo dominated Nacional in the early years, being the first to reach European competition.

Honours

National competitions

• Segunda Liga
  • Winners: 2017–18
• Segunda Divisão B / South Zone
  • Winners: 1999–2000

Regional competitions

• AF Madeira Championship
  • Winners (8): 1934–35, 1936–37, 1938–39, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1968–69, 1974–75
• AF Madeira Cup
  • Winners (6): 1943–44, 1944–45, 1973–74, 1974–75, 2001–02, 2007–08

Other

• Ramón de Carranza Trophy
  • Winners: 2012

League and Cup history

:A. Relegated to the Segunda Liga. :B. Relegated to the Segunda Divisão. :C. Promoted to the Segunda Liga. :D. Promoted to the Primeira Liga. :E. Best Primeira Liga finish. :F. First presence in european competitions. :G. Best finish in european competitions. :H. LigaPro suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal Last updated: 15 May 2021

Div. = Division; 1D = Primeira Liga; 2D = Segunda Liga; 2DS = Segunda Divisão – South Zone

Pos. = Position; Pl = Match played; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lost; GS = Goal scored; GA = Goal against; Pts = Points

R = Round (Number); QF = Quarter-finals; SF = Semi-finals; PO = Play-off; GS = Group stage

= Champions; = Semi-finals or 3rd place; = Promoted; = Relegated

European record

Last updated: 28 August 2014

Q = Qualifying; PO = Play-off

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Statistics

Most appearances

Top goalscorers

Former coaches

• Brazil Jair Picerni (1989–91)
• Portugal Eurico Gomes (1991–92)
• Portugal José Rachão (1993–95)
• Portugal Rodolfo Reis (1995–96)
• Brazil Jair Picerni (1996–98)
• Portugal José Alberto Torres (1998–99)
• Portugal José Peseiro (1999–03)
• Brazil Casemiro Mior (2003–05)
• Portugal João Carlos Pereira (2005)
• Portugal Manuel Machado (2005–06)
• Portugal Carlos Brito (2006–07)
• Serbia Predrag Jokanović (2007–08)
• Portugal Manuel Machado (2008–10)
• Serbia Predrag Jokanović (interim) (2009–10)
• Serbia Predrag Jokanović (2010–11)
• Portugal Ivo Vieira (2011)
• Portugal Pedro Caixinha (2011–12)
• Portugal Manuel Machado (2012–2016)
• Serbia Predrag Jokanović (2016–2017)
• Portugal Costinha (2017–2019)
• Portugal Luís Freire (2019–2021)
• Portugal Manuel Machado (2021)
• Portugal Costinha (2021)
• Portugal Rui Borges (2021–2022)
• Portugal Filipe Cândido (2022–2023)
• Portugal Tiago Margarido (2023–)

President

• Portugal António Figueira (1910–26)
• Portugal Ernesto dos Santos (1926–32)
• Portugal António Caldeira (1932–36)
• Portugal Consuelo Figueira (1936–40)
• Portugal Luís Serrão (1940–44)
• Portugal Daniel Machado (1944–48)
• Portugal José Abreu (1954–58)
• Portugal António Manuel Caldeira (1958–64)
• Portugal Fernando Rebelo (1964–65)
• Portugal Luís Serrão (1965–69)
• Portugal António Manuel Caldeira (1969–73)
• Portugal Nélio Mendonça (1973–93)
• Portugal Fausto Pereira (1993–94)
• Portugal Rui Alves (1994–14)
• Portugal João Teixeira (2014–15)
• Portugal Rui Alves (2015–)

Player records

Most appearances

Competitive matches only, includes appearances as used substitute.

Most goals

Competitive matches only, includes goals as used substitute.

References

References

1. "CD Nacional profile". Soccerway.
2. (6 July 2002). "José Peseiro quer fazer do Nacional "o maior clube da Madeira"". Mais Futebol.
3. (28 September 2002). "NACIONAL-BENFICA, 1-0 (''Serginho 61'')". Record.
4. (22 February 2004). "SuperLiga: Nacional vinga derrota na Taça de Portugal". Público.
5. (1 July 2004). "Paulo Assunção assina por quatro anos pelo FC Porto". Público.
6. (30 September 2004). "El Sevilla resuelve con autoridad". El Mundo.
7. (31 January 2005). "Deadline beating move for Bojinov". CNN.
8. (9 May 2006). "Treinador Manuel Machado deixa o Nacional da Madeira". Público.
9. (4 December 2006). "Estrela vence e descola dos últimos lugares". Público.
10. (24 May 2009). "Consagração do campeão FC Porto e do goleador Nené [''sic'']". Diário de Notícias.
11. (24 June 2009). "Futebol: Nacional - Transferência de Nenê para o Cagliari pode render 10 milhões de euros". Jornal de Notícias.
12. (28 August 2009). "Zenit SP suffer shock elimination". Times of Malta.
13. (16 December 2009). "Nacional despede-se com vitória robusta sobre austríacos". RTP.
14. (8 February 2012). "Sporting apurado para a final". UEFA.
15. (29 August 2014). "Chigozie Udoji Tips Dinamo Minsk To Qualify Ahead Of Fiorentina, PAOK". All Nigeria Soccer.
16. (8 April 2015). "Sporting vence Nacional e qualifica-se para a final da Taça de Portugal". TSF.
17. (5 May 2017). "Nacional desce de divisão". Diário de Notícias (Madeira).
18. (8 June 2008). "OFICIAL: Ricardo Gomes apresentado no Partizan". Mais Futebol.
19. (24 May 2009). "Nacional confirma saída de Costinha". Jornal de Notícias.
20. (12 February 2019). "A mensagem do filho de Costinha após goleada do Benfica: "Pai, acontece aos melhores"". Sábado.
21. (5 May 2020). "Treinador Luís Freire consegue sexta subida da carreira com o Nacional". Diário de Notícias (Madeira).
22. (16 May 2021). "Nacional desce à II Liga ao perder em Famalicão". Correio da Manhã.
23. (25 April 2023). "Sporting de Braga chega à final da Taça de Portugal pela oitava vez". SAPO.
24. (28 May 2023). "Nacional dá a volta e fica na II Liga, BSAD vai a play-off e Trofense desce". Mais Futebol.
25. (1 July 2025). "Obrigado, Hummel".
26. (1 July 2025). "KAPPA É A NOVA PARCEIRA OFICIAL DO CD NACIONAL".
27. "Presidentes".
28. "Estádio da Madeira".
29. "CD Nacional (Plantel)". cdnacional.pt.
30. "Serginho Cunha".
31. "Bruno Patacas".
32. "João Aurélio".
33. "Ivo Vieira".
34. "Cléber Monteiro".
35. "João Fidalgo".
36. "António Vieira".
37. "Mateus".
38. "Fernando Ávalos".
39. "Pedro Paulo".
40. "Adriano".
41. "Roberto Carlos".
42. "Rui Miguel".
43. "Mario Rondón".
44. "Claudemir".
45. "Nenê".
46. "Edmilson".
47. "André Pinto".
48. "Diego Barcelos".
49. "Marco Matias".