# F.C. Arouca

Futebol Clube de Arouca (pronounced) is a professional football club based in Arouca, a town and a municipality in the Metropolitan Area of Porto, in the Norte Region of Portugal and in the Aveiro District. Founded in 1951, the club plays in the Primeira Liga, holding home games at Estádio Municipal de Arouca, with a 5,600-seat capacity.

## History

Founded on 25 December 1951, as a FC Porto subsidiary, Arouca spent the first five decades of its existence in the Aveiro regional leagues. In only two years (2006–08) it managed to reach the third division, being managed by television (RTP) presenter Jorge Gabriel for a few months during that timeframe.
Arouca managed its fourth promotion in only seven years at the end of 2012–13, reaching the Primeira Liga for the first time in its history. Subsequently, the Arouca Municipality awarded the club the Medal of Gold Merit for its achievement, with the organization also being granted extra financial means to renovate and expand its stadium.
In 2015–16 under Lito Vidigal, Arouca finished a best-ever fifth place, qualifying for the first time to the UEFA Europa League. After beating Heracles Almelo of the Netherlands on the away goals rule, they lost the play-off 3–1 after extra time to Olympiacos of Greece. A year after their peak finish, Arouca were relegated, ending their four years at the top.
A two-year spell in the second division for Arouca ended in May 2019 when on the last day of the season, they lost to U.D. Oliveirense and Varzim S.C. defeated Académica de Coimbra; this ended nine years in the professional leagues. The 2019–20 season was truncated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Arouca and Vizela were due to be promoted because of their final position; competitors Olhanense successfully appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport for these promotions to be suspended.

## Players
### Current squad

    As of 3 February 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | POR | João Valido |
| 2 | MF | GUI | Morlaye Sylla |
| 3 | DF | ESP | José Fontán |
| 4 | DF | URU | Matías Rocha |
| 5 | MF | POR | David Simão (captain) |
| 10 | FW | ESP | Jason |
| 11 | FW | ESP | Miguel Puche |
| 13 | DF | SRB | Boris Popović (on loan from Cercle Brugge) |
| 19 | FW | URU | Alfonso Trezza |
| 20 | MF | POR | Pedro Moreira |
| 21 | MF | JPN | Taichi Fukui |
| 22 | MF | ESP | Pablo Gozálbez |
| 23 | FW | URU | Dylan Nandín (on loan from Racing Montevideo) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 24 | MF | URU | Brian Mansilla (on loan from Peñarol) |
| 26 | DF | BRA | Weverson |
| 27 | DF | MLI | Amadou Dante (on loan from Sturm Graz) |
| 28 | DF | POR | Tiago Esgaio |
| 30 | GK | SVK | Jakub Vinarčík (on loan from Juventus) |
| 31 | MF | SEN | Mamadou Loum |
| 39 | FW | POR | Henrique Araújo (on loan from Benfica) |
| 44 | DF | CRO | Nino Galović |
| 50 | FW | TUR | Güven Yalçın (on loan from Genoa) |
| 58 | GK | GER | Nico Mantl |
| 73 | DF | POR | Chico Lamba |
| 78 | DF | POR | Alex Pinto |
| 89 | MF | POR | Pedro Santos |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | BLR | Vladislav Morozov (to Paços de Ferreira until 30 June 2025) |

## Statistics
### Most appearances

    As of 23 January 2025
| Rank | Player | Appearances | Goals |
| 1 | David Simão | 202 | 14 |
| 2 | André Bukia | 175 | 24 |
| 3 | Nuno Coelho | 174 | 11 |
| 4 | João Basso | 136 | 19 |
| 5 | Thales Oleques | 133 | 7 |
| 6 | Roberto | 124 | 32 |
| 7 | Adílio Santos | 117 | 24 |
| 8 | Tiago Esgaio | 110 | 4 |
| 8 | Quaresma | 110 | 2 |
| 10 | Rafael Bracali | 102 | 0 |

### Top goalscorers

    As of 23 January 2025
| Rank | Player | Appearances | Goals |
| 1 | Joeano | 68 | 46 |
| 2 | Rafa Mújica | 68 | 37 |
| 3 | Roberto | 124 | 32 |
| 4 | Fábio Fortes | 62 | 27 |
| 5 | Adílio Santos | 117 | 24 |
| 5 | André Bukia | 175 | 24 |
| 7 | André Silva | 80 | 21 |
| 8 | João Basso | 136 | 19 |
| 9 | Cristo González | 44 | 18 |
| 10 | Oday Dabbagh | 45 | 15 |

## Managerial history

* Acácio Figueiredo (2000–2001)
* Francisco Batista (2001–2002)
* Artur Quaresma (2003 – June 2004)
* Vasco Coelho (1 July 2004 – 1 November 2004)
* Rui Correia (1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007)
* Jorge Gabriel (1 July 2007 – 4 February 2008)
* José Pedro (4 February 2008 – 30 June 2009)
* Carlos Secretário (1 July 2009 – 7 December 2009)
* Henrique Nunes (9 December 2009 – 20 September 2011)
* Vítor Oliveira (21 September 2011 – 30 June 2013)
* Pedro Emanuel (1 July 2013 – 25 May 2015)
* Lito Vidigal (1 July 2015 – 11 February 2017)
* Manuel Machado (11 February 2017 – 21 March 2017)
* Jorge Leitão (22 March 2017 – 30 June 2017)
* Jorge Costa (1 July 2017 – 14 September 2017)
* Miguel Leal (15 September 2017 – 26 September 2018)
* Quim Machado (27 September 2018 – 30 June 2019)
* Henrique Nunes (1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020)
* Armando Evangelista (1 July 2020 – 11 June 2023)
* Daniel Ramos (1 July 2023 – 15 November 2023)
* Daniel Sousa (15 November 2023 – 19 May 2024)
* Gonzalo García (21 May 2024 – present)

## Honours

* Segunda Divisão
** 2009–10
* Terceira Divisão
** 2007–08
* Aveiro Regional League
** 2006–07, 2002–03

## Seasons

| Season | Tier | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Cup | Other Cups | Other Cups | Europe / Other | Europe / Other | Top goalscorer(s) | Top goalscorer(s) |
| Season | Tier | League | Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Cup | Other Cups | Other Cups | Europe / Other | Europe / Other | Name | Goals |
| 1985–86 | 4 | Aveiro I | Norte | 33 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 29 | 54 | 58 | 16th | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1986–87 | 5 | Aveiro II | Norte | 26 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 78 | 10 | 71 | 1st | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1987–88 | ? | | | | | | | | | | | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1988–89 | ? | | | | | | | | | | | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1989–90 | ? | | | | | | | | | | | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1990–91 | ? | | | | | | | | | | | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1991–92 | ? | | | | | | | | | | | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1992–93 | ? | | | | | | | | | | | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1993–94 | ? | | | | | | | | | | | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1994–95 | ? | | | | | | | | | | | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1995–96 | ? | | | | | | | | | | | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1996–97 | 5 | Aveiro I | A | 30 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 17 | 55 | 14 | 15th | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1997–98 | 6 | Aveiro I B | Norte | 30 | | | | | | 79 | 1st | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1998–99 | 5 | Aveiro I | A | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 32 | 37 | 44 | 5th | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 1999–00 | 5 | Aveiro I | A | 30 | | | | | | | 11th | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 2000–01 | 5 | Aveiro I | A | 30 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 44 | 18 | 62 | 1st | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 2000–01 | 5 | Aveiro I | Play-Off | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 2nd | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 2001–02 | 4 | III Divisão | C | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 44 | 60 | 39 | 15th | R1 | — | | | | | |
| 2002–03 | 5 | Aveiro I | Aveiro I | 38 | | | | | | 89 | 1st | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 2003–04 | 4 | III Divisão | C | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 41 | 46 | 40 | 15th | R2 | — | | | | | |
| 2004–05 | 5 | Aveiro I | Aveiro I | 38 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 54 | 29 | 75 | 3rd | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 2005–06 | 5 | Aveiro I | Aveiro I | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 68 | 42 | 65 | 5th | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 2006–07 | 5 | Aveiro I | Aveiro I | 34 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 67 | 18 | 81 | 1st | — | Aveiro Cup | | | | | |
| 2007–08 | 4 | III Divisão | C | 36 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 59 | 26 | 48 | 1st | R2 | — | | | | | |
| 2007–08 | 4 | III Divisão | Play-Off | Cancelled due to financial constraints | Cancelled due to financial constraints | Cancelled due to financial constraints | Cancelled due to financial constraints | Cancelled due to financial constraints | Cancelled due to financial constraints | Cancelled due to financial constraints | Shared | R2 | — | | | | | |
| 2008–09 | 3 | II Divisão | B | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 26 | 23 | 29 | 7th | R4 | — | | | | | |
| 2008–09 | 3 | II Divisão | Play-Out | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 31 | 7th | R4 | — | | | | | |
| 2009–10 | 3 | II Divisão | Centro | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 41 | 23 | 57 | 1st | R2 | — | | | | | |
| 2009–10 | 3 | II Divisão | Play-Off | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1st | R2 | — | | | | | |
| 2010–11 | 2 | II Liga | II Liga | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 47 | 41 | 57 | 5th | R3 | League Cup | R3 | | | N'Jock; Kiko | 12 |
| 2011–12 | 2 | II Liga | II Liga | 30 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 32 | 36 | 34 | 13th | R2 | League Cup | R1 | | | Joeano | 19 |
| 2012–13 | 2 | II Liga | II Liga | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 65 | 48 | 73 | 2nd | QF | League Cup | R1 | | | Joeano | 27 |
| 2013–14 | 1 | I Liga | I Liga | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 28 | 42 | 31 | 12th | R5 | League Cup | R2 | | | Roberto | 9 |
| 2014–15 | 1 | I Liga | I Liga | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 26 | 50 | 28 | 16th | R3 | League Cup | R3 | | | Roberto | 6 |
| 2015–16 | 1 | I Liga | I Liga | 34 | 13 | 15 | 6 | 47 | 38 | 54 | 5th | QF | League Cup | R3 | | | Walter González | 7 |
| 2016–17 | 1 | I Liga | I Liga | 34 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 33 | 57 | 32 | 17th | R3 | League Cup | R3 | EL | PO | Kuca | 8 |
| 2017–18 | 2 | II Liga | II Liga | 38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 42 | 37 | 59 | 6th | R4 | League Cup | R2 | | | Roberto Rodrigo | 11 |
| 2018–19 | 2 | II Liga | II Liga | 34 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 40 | 45 | 40 | 16th | R4 | League Cup | R2 | | | Fábio Fortes | 9 |
| 2019–20 | 3 | C. Portugal. | D | 25 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 49 | 19 | 58 | 1st | R4 | | | | | Fábio Fortes | 18 |
| 2020–21 | 2 | II Liga | II Liga | 34 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 55 | 26 | 70 | 3rd | R3 | | | | | André Silva | 7 |
| 2020–21 | 2 | Play-off | Play-off | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | | 1st | R3 | | | | | André Silva | 7 |
| 2021–22 | 1 | I Liga | I Liga | 34 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 30 | 54 | 31 | 15th | R3 | League Cup | R2 | | | André Silva | 10 |
| 2022–23 | 1 | I Liga | I Liga | 34 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 36 | 37 | 54 | 5th | R5 | League Cup | SF | | | Rafa Mújica | 14 |
| 2023–24 | 1 | I Liga | I Liga | 34 | | | | | | | | | League Cup | R3 | ECL | PO | | |
| Champions | Runners-up | Qualified for the Europa League | Qualified for the Europa Conference League | Promoted | Qualified for Play-Off | Relegated |
Last updated: 10 November 2023
| Key | Meaning | Key | Meaning |
| P | Played | QR | Qualifying Round |
| W | Games won | GS | Group Stage |
| D | Games drawn | R | Round |
| L | Games lost | QF | Quarter-Finals |
| GF | Goals for | SF | Semi-Finals |
| GA | Goals against | RU | Runner Up |
| Pts | Points | W | Winner |
| Pos | Final position | ? | No information |
* ↑ Goals in all competitions (Liga Portuguesa, Taça de Portugal, League Cup, County FA leagues and cups, and European) are counted.
* ↑ Campeonato de Portugal suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
* ↑ Beat Rio Ave in the play-off and was promoted to I Liga

## European record

| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
| 2016–17 | UEFA Europa League | 3Q | Heracles Almelo | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 (a) |
| 2016–17 | UEFA Europa League | PO | Olympiacos | 0–1 | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | 1–3 |
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 3Q | Brann | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–4 |

### Notes

* 3Q: Third qualifying round
* PO: Play-off