Former Cruzeiro director’s father’s club rises in Portugal after 19 years < No Attack

Managed by Brazilians, FC Alverca is back in professional football in Portugal. After 19 years away from the spotlight, the club from the metropolitan district of Lisbon secured access to the national Second Division, even though there were two games left to play in the Third Division.

The owner of FC Alverca is the Vicintin family, with Ricardo Vicintin being the president. The 74-year-old leader is the father of Bruno Vicintin, former vice-president of Cruzeiro and now responsible for Santa Clara, also in Portugal.

The general director of the Alverca do Ribatejo club is also Brazilian Matheus Ornelas, 36 years old, born in Belo Horizonte.

The squad of the blue and maroon team has eight Brazilian players: goalkeeper João Bravim (former base of Cruzeiro and Santos), defenders Cesinha (former of Cruzeiro and Red Bull Bragantino), Alysson (former base of Cruzeiro and Botafogo) and Pedro Venaque (ex-Guarani), midfielders Pedro Bicalho (ex-Palmeiras and Cruzeiro), Vitinho (ex-Palmeira and Cruzeiro) and Iago Oliveira (ex-Atlético) and striker Luiz Miguel (ex-Fortaleza).

Portuguese coach João Pereira is the youngest among the country’s three main divisions. He is 32 years old and recently worked as an assistant coach for the Mozambique national team.

One of the main names in the history of FC Alverca is the Portuguese-Brazilian idol Deco, currently Barcelona’s football director. The former star even congratulated his former club.

Alverca’s return to the Portuguese Second Division

Alverca last competed in the Second Division – the last tier of professional football in Portugal – in the 2004/05 season, when they finished in 13th place out of 18 teams.

The club finished that season outside the relegation zone, but left professional football after participating. Alverca also competed in the First Division on five occasions: 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02 and 2003/04.