History of Sporting CP in Timeline

Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sporting CP), based in Lisbon, is a prominent Portuguese sports club. While encompassing various sports, it's most recognized for its men's professional football team, which competes in the Primeira Liga, Portugal's premier football league. Often referred to as Sporting Lisbon internationally, it holds a significant place in Portuguese sports history and culture.

June 1902: Sport Club de Belas Creation

In June 1902, a group of young men created Sport Club de Belas, the first ancestor of Sporting.

April 1906: Discussions Erupt Over Club Focus

On April 12, 1906, during a picnic, discussions erupted among club members about whether the club should focus on social events or sports.

May 1906: Founding of New Club

On May 8, 1906, José Gavazzo, José Alvalade, and 17 other members left the club and founded a new club. On May 26, it was named "Campo Grande Sporting Clube".

July 1906: Club Foundation

In July 1906, Sporting CP was founded, becoming one of the "Big Three" clubs in Portugal. The club is known as Leões (Lions) and Verde e Brancos (Green and Whites).

July 1906: Name Change to Sporting Clube de Portugal

On July 1, 1906, António Félix da Costa Júnior suggested the name Sporting Clube de Portugal.

1906: Initial Kit

When Sporting CP was founded in 1906, its players wore white jerseys.

1907: Firsts for the Club

In 1907, Sporting played their first football match on February 3, inaugurated their first ground on July 4, and played their first derby against Benfica on December 1.

October 1908: Presentation of the Stromp Kit

On 25 October 1908, Sporting CP presented the first ten football shirts that would come to be known as the Stromp kit.

1909: Various Sports Practiced

As early as 1909, various sports were practiced at Sporting, including football, athletics, gymnastics, rope-wrestling, tennis, cricket, and field hockey.

1912: Salazar Carreira linked with the club

Since 1912, Salazar Carreira was a sportsman and sports manager linked to the club.

1915: Shorts color change

In 1915, the Stromp kit had white shorts, with the shorts changing to black.

1920: Foundation Date Set

Since 1920, July 1, 1906 is the club's foundation date.

March 1922: Sporting Club of Portugal Bulletin Launch

In March 1922, Jornal Sporting began as the Sporting Club of Portugal Bulletin, an eight-page calendar with a subscription fee.

March 1922: First Report Card Released

On March 31, 1922, Sporting released their first report card, "Boletim do Sporting", which later became "Jornal do Sporting".

1926: Rugby team jerseys

In 1926, the horizontally striped green and white jerseys chosen by Salazar Carreira for the club's rugby team.

November 1927: First Use of Striped Jerseys

On 6 November 1927, the horizontally striped green and white jerseys chosen for the club's rugby team were worn by the football team for the first time.

July 1928: Striped Jerseys in Brazil

In July 1928, Sporting CP's football team wore the horizontally striped jerseys in Brazil due to the weather conditions.

October 1928: Establishment of Main Kit

On 5 October 1928, Sporting CP established the green and white horizontally striped jersey with black shorts as the club's main kit.

January 1935: First Primeira Liga Game

On January 20, 1935, Sporting played their first Primeira Liga game, winning 0–6 against Académica de Coimbra.

1936: Heaviest Defeat Against Porto

In 1936, Sporting had their heaviest ever defeat against Porto, losing 10–1.

1941: First League Title

In 1941, Sporting celebrated the first league title of their history under the guidance of Hungarian manager József Szabó.

1947: Start of Dominant Era

In 1947, Sporting started a dominant era in Portuguese football, led by "The Five Violins".

1949: Latin Cup Runner-Up

In 1949, Sporting was the runner-up at the Latin Cup.

1950: Four League Titles in a Row Start

From 1950, Sporting won four league titles in a row.

1951: Four League Titles in a Row Continued

In 1951, Sporting won four league titles in a row, continuing from 1950.

June 1952: Sporting Bulletin becomes Newspaper

In June 1952, the Sporting Club of Portugal Bulletin, under the direction of Artur da Cunha Rosa, transitioned into a newspaper.

1954: End of Dominant Era

In 1954, Sporting's dominant era in Portuguese football came to an end, after winning seven league titles in eight seasons.

September 1955: First-Ever UEFA Champion Clubs' Cup Match

On September 4, 1955, Sporting and Partizan played the first-ever UEFA Champion Clubs' Cup match, with Sporting player João Martins scoring the first goal. The match ended in a 3–3 draw.

September 1955: First European Champions Cup Match

On September 4, 1955, Sporting played in the first European Champions Cup match by invitation.

June 1956: Inauguration of José Alvalade Stadium

On June 10, 1956, Sporting inaugurated their new venue, José Alvalade Stadium, which would be their home ground until 2003.

1956: Fiftieth Anniversary Crest

In 1956, Sporting CP introduced a commemorating crest for the fiftieth anniversary of the club.

1956: Previous Estádio José Alvalade Built

In 1956, the previous Estádio José Alvalade was built, which served as the club's home ground until it was replaced in 2003.

1956: Trophy Room Stored 1850 Trophies

In 1956, the trophy room in the old headquarters on Rua do Passadiço stored 1850 trophies.

1963: European Cup Winners' Cup Victory

In 1963, Sporting won the European Cup Winners' Cup.

November 1973: Approval of First Club-Company Project

In November 1973, under the leadership of president João Rocha, Sporting CP's affiliated partners approved the first project of club-company in Portugal, named "Society of Constructions and Planning".

1974: Cup Winners' Cup Semi-Finals

In 1974, Sporting reached the semi-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup but lost to 1. FC Magdeburg.

1974: Carnation Revolution

In 1974, the Carnation Revolution occurred, hampering the club-company project.

1975: Processo Revolucionário em Curso

In 1975, the Processo Revolucionário em Curso further hampered the club-company project.

1981: Malcolm Allison Arrives

In 1981, English manager Malcolm Allison arrived at Sporting.

1982: Domestic Double

In 1982, under Malcolm Allison, Sporting won the domestic double (league title and Portuguese cup).

December 1986: Victory Over Benfica

On December 14, 1986, Sporting had a 7–1 victory over Benfica at the old José Alvalade Stadium.

1987: Portuguese Super Cup Victory

In 1987, Sporting defeated Benfica to win the Portuguese Super Cup.

1991: UEFA Cup Semi-Final

In 1991, Sporting reached the UEFA Cup semi-final, losing against Internazionale.

1994: New Trophy Room Inauguration

In 1994, President Sousa Cintra inaugurated a new trophy room, displaying less than half of the club's collections.

1994: Financial Status in 1994

In 1994, Sporting CP had €55 million in real estate assets and an almost nonexistent debt, according to an audit released in June 2015.

1994: Defeat of Real Madrid

In the 1994–95 season, Real Madrid were defeated in Lisbon when playing against Sporting in the old UEFA Cup.

1995: Start of Investment Period

From 1995, Sporting CP invested €261 million in the football team, with few sports and financial results by 2013.

1995: Portuguese Cup Victory

In 1995, Sporting won the Portuguese Cup, beating Marítimo 2–0 in the final.

April 1996: Portuguese Super Cup Victory

On April 30, 1996, Sporting won the Portuguese Super Cup against Porto at the Parc de Princes in Paris, with Sá Pinto scoring twice.

1998: Futebol, SAD Creation

In 1998, Sporting created the Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD, a public limited sports company for its football department, which went public on the Lisbon Stock Exchange.

2000: End of Title Drought

In 2000, Sporting won the league title, ending an 18-year drought.

2000: League Title Victory

In 2000, Sporting, led by manager Augusto Inácio, won the league title, ending an 18-year drought.

2001: Emblem Change

In 2001, Sporting CP radically changed its emblem to convey a message of modernity.

2001: Super Cup Victory

In 2001, Sporting conquered the Super Cup but came third in the league.

June 2002: Opening of Training Facility

On June 21, 2002, Sporting opened its training facility in Alcochete, located 30 km east of Lisbon.

August 2002: Cristiano Ronaldo's First Official Match

On August 14, 2002, Cristiano Ronaldo played his first official match for Sporting CP's senior team.

September 2002: Cristiano Ronaldo Debuts

In September 2002, Cristiano Ronaldo debuted as a senior player in official domestic competitions playing for Sporting CP B. Cristiano Ronaldo debuted in the Primeira Liga playing for Sporting CP's main team on September 29.

2002: Failure to Win Primeira Liga Again

Since 2002, Sporting has failed to win Primeira Liga again.

August 2003: Inauguration of New Stadium

On August 6, 2003, the new Sporting CP's stadium, the Estádio José Alvalade, was inaugurated.

2003: Stadium Completion

In 2003, Sporting CP's new stadium was completed at a cost of €184 million, 74% more than the initially expected €106 million.

2003: End of an Era at José Alvalade Stadium

In 2003, Sporting stopped playing at José Alvalade Stadium.

2003: Estádio José Alvalade Built

In 2003, the Estádio José Alvalade was built, replacing the previous stadium. The Estádio José Alvalade has been Sporting CP's home ground since then.

August 2004: Sporting Museum Inauguration

In August 2004, the Sporting Museum (Museu Sporting) was inaugurated in Lisbon, showcasing the club's history and achievements with around two thousand trophies on display.

2004: Leading the Primeira Liga

In the 2004–05 season, José Peseiro-led Sporting was leading the Primeira Liga and was trailing a remarkable journey in UEFA Cup.

January 2005: Elimination from Taça de Portugal

On January 26, 2005, Sporting was eliminated from Taça de Portugal after losing on penalties against Benfica.

2005: UEFA Cup Runner-Up

In 2005, Sporting was the runner-up at the UEFA Cup.

2006: Sporting Solidário Section Created

In 2006, Sporting CP created Sporting Solidário, a section dedicated to social solidarity initiatives.

2006: Centennial Crest

In 2006, Sporting CP introduced a commemorating crest for the one hundredth year of existence of the club.

2007: Portuguese Cup Win

In 2007, Sporting CP, led by coach Paulo Bento, won the Portuguese Cup.

2008: Portuguese Cup Win

In 2008, Sporting CP, led by coach Paulo Bento, secured back-to-back wins in the Portuguese Cup.

2008: Champions League Season

Sporting CP did not make it to the knockout phase for their only the second time since the 2008–09 season.

November 2009: Managerial Changes

Starting in November 2009, Sporting CP experienced frequent managerial changes, with nine managers contracted between November 2009 and May 2013.

2011: Accumulation of Debt

By 2011, Sporting CP had amassed debts exceeding €276 million due to years of financial mismanagement.

2011: Europa League Semi-Finals

In 2011, Sporting CP competed in the 2011-12 Europa League, eventually reaching the semi-finals in 2012.

2012: Europa League Semi-Finals

In 2012, Sporting CP reached the semi-finals of the 2011-12 Europa League but were eliminated by Athletic Bilbao.

2012: Sporting Foundation Established

In 2012, the Fundação Sporting (Sporting Foundation) was established as a humanitarian charity foundation.

2012: Lowest League Finish

In the 2012-13 Primeira Liga, Sporting CP finished seventh, which was their lowest ever finish.

May 2013: Godinho Lopes Resigns; Bruno de Carvalho Elected

In May 2013, Godinho Lopes resigned as president of Sporting CP, and Bruno de Carvalho was subsequently elected in a snap election.

2013: End of Investment Period

By 2013, Sporting CP had invested €261 million in the football team since 1995, but the audit showed few sports and financial results.

2013: Financial Status in 2013

By 2013, Sporting CP's real estate assets were almost nonexistent, and the club had amassed a €331 million debt, according to an audit released in June 2015.

2013: Second Place League Finish

In the 2013-14 season, Sporting CP, led by coach Leonardo Jardim, finished second in the league.

2014: Portuguese Cup Victory

In 2014, Sporting CP won their 16th Portuguese Cup, defeating Braga 3-1 on penalties after a dramatic comeback.

2014: Champions League Qualification

In 2014, Sporting CP, having finished second in the 2013-14 season, gained direct access to the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League.

June 2015: Jorge Jesus Joins Sporting

In June 2015, Jorge Jesus joined Sporting CP after Benfica opted not to renew his contract, signing a three-year contract.

June 2015: Expulsion of Godinho Lopes

In June 2015, club members approved the expulsion of Godinho Lopes as an associate of the club, considering the audit's results.

June 2015: Audit Released

On 5 June 2015, an audit was released analyzing Sporting CP's management over the past 20 years, revealing a significant decline in real estate assets and a massive increase in debt.

July 2016: Sporting Museum Renovation

In July 2016, the Sporting Museum underwent a total renovation and was re-inaugurated.

May 2018: Attack on Players and Coaches

On 15 May 2018, several Sporting CP players and coaches were attacked by ultra supporters at the club's training ground.

September 2018: Frederico Varandas Elected President

On 8 September 2018, Frederico Varandas was elected president of Sporting CP.

March 2019: Loan Negotiated with Apollo Global Management

In March 2019, Sporting CP announced a loan negotiated with Apollo Global Management, based on the securitization of NOS' television rights revenues.

2019: Financial Restructuring

In 2019 Sporting CP started a financial restructuring.

March 2020: Ruben Amorim Appointed Manager

In March 2020, Ruben Amorim was appointed manager of Sporting CP for a managerial transfer worth €10 million (£8.65 million).

2020: Third League Cup Win

In the 2020–21 season, Sporting CP won their third league cup.

2021: Primeira Liga Title and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

In 2021, Sporting CP won their 19th Primeira Liga title and the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.

2022: Club Facilities Renovation

Starting in 2022 for the 2022-2026 quadrennium, Frederico Varandas' administration began renovating and modernizing the club's facilities.

December 2023: Financial Restructuring

In December 2023, Sporting CP and its SAD continued with a financial restructuring that included renegotiating bank debt.

2023: 20th Primeira Liga Title

In the 2023–24 league season, Sporting won their 20th Primeira liga title.

February 2024: Increased Ownership of Sporting SAD

From 15 February 2024 onwards, Sporting CP announced it would own 88 per cent of Sporting SAD, up from 83.90%.

2026: Club Facilities Renovation

For the 2022-2026 quadrennium, Frederico Varandas' administration started works of building renovation and modernization of the club's facilities, starting in 2022.