Gil Vicente predictions

Gil Vicente History

In the spring of 1924, in the city of Barcelos, a group of friends were playing football near a theatre that bore the name of a Portuguese playwright – Gil Vicente. Inspired by the formation of Barcelos Sporting Club and Uniao Football Club Barcelense, they founded their own club and named it Gil Vicente Football Barcelense.

The club struggled greatly through the decades since then, starting immediately with trying to find a pitch to play on. However, their efforts were rewarded in 1990, when they finally reached the top tier for the first time. Apart from between 1997 and 1999, the club mostly managed to maintain their top-flight status until the events in 2006 which saw them relegated for allegedly fielding an ineligible player – Angolan striker Mateus. The club were accused of illegally resolving the matter of Mateus’ contract with his former employers FC Lixa. As a result of their relegation, Belenenses, who were supposed to go down, were allowed to stay up.

It was precisely that act that has now been overruled in court, granting Gil Vicente their return to the Primeira Liga this season. Justice appears to have been done now, and it remains to be seen where the club will go from here.