PRESENTATION

Football is a sport practiced throughout the world by millions and millions of people and that arouses great passions.

Initially seen as a sport of the male gender, women have been imposing more and more, showing that football can also be played by "them"...
We created this space for all, to learn more about Women's Football in general, and more specifically on the evolution of Women's Football in Portugal.
Enjoy it... we love it!

HISTORY OF WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

The woman, even though it might seem strange, has been important for the development and evolution of football.

There are records which show that as far back as the 12th century it was common for women to play ball games, especially in France and Scotland.
In 1963, a set of rules was put into action to prevent violence in the game and this was socially acceptable for women. In 1892, in Glasgow, Scotland, the first football game between women took place.
The most known document about the beginnings of female football dates from 1894 when Nettie Honeyball, an activist for the women's rights, funded the first British sports club called Ladies Football Club.

Honeyball, truly believing in her fight, said she wanted to demonstrate that women could reach emancipation and have an important place in society. Lady Florence Dixie has also played an important role in the development of the game because she organized exhibition games for charity and in 1895 became President of the British Ladies Football, stipulating that "the young girls should get into the spirit of the game with their heart and soul". In the same year she organized a team tour of Scotland to promote football among women and, at the same time, to make her team known.

The first world War was the key to the pinnacle of women's football in England, because, with the departure of many men to the battlefield, the woman was forced to work and many factories have created their own football teams, which until then were only the privilege of men.

However, at the end of the war, the Football Association did not recognize women's football, despite the success and popularity.

After the Word Cup of 1966, interest in women's football has grown so that the Football Association decided back in 1969 created from within the Association the Department's national football team.

Following, and in 1971, UEFA instructed their partners to manage and promote women's football and it was then that in Europe the football team was able to consolidate scone thereafter.

Nowadays, countries like England, Germany, Italy, USA and Japan have professional leagues whose popularity does not envy what is achieved by their similar male. And like in football men, also held the European Championship and world Cup.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

The National Championship of Women's Football had first season in 1993/1994. After 16 seasons of competition these were the National Champions:

- SU 1.º Dezembro with 8 awards;
- Boavista FC with 3 awards;
- Gatões Fc with 3 awards;
- ADC Lobão with 1 award.

In these 16 seasons the awards were given to:
1993/1994 - Boavista FC
1994/1995 - Boavista FC
1995/1996 - ADC Lobão
1996/1997 - Boavista FC
1997/1998 - Gatões FC
1998/1999 - Gatões FC
1999/2000 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2000/2001 - Gatões FC
2001/2002 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2002/2003 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2003/2004 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2004/2005 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2005/2006 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2006/2007 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2007/2008 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2008/2009 - SU 1.º Dezembro

Only in 2003/2004, ten yeras after the first National Championship, did the first Cup of Portugal take place. In this competition only two teams won:
- SU 1.º Dezembro with 5 cups;
- SM Murtoense with 1 cup.

These are the teams which have won the cup of Portugal:
2003/2004 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2004/2005 - SM Murtoense
2005/2006 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2006/2007 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2007/2008 - SU 1.º Dezembro
2008/2009 - SU 1.º Dezembro

If we analyse the winners of the two major women's football national compettions, it is very clear that the club Sociedade União 1.º Dezembro has an outstanding position in the rank having won various awards since 2001.


Nowadays because of the approval of the Portuguese Federation of Football of the new Competition Board, the National Championship of the First Divisiom comprises of 10 teams (6 before) and it is played in two rounds. The National Championship of the Second Division comprises of 18 teams divided by three areas (A, B and C).

PORTUGUESE SELECTIONS

In Portugal, the records of the first game of the selection date from the 24th October 1981, in Le Mans against France, in a game of preparation which ended 0-0.

The first goal scored by the portuguese team only happened in the 5th game against Spain, on the 6th February 1983, in La Guardia, it was scored by São Tato, a player of Leixões SC.


Since then and up to now, Portugal has played 152 games among games of preparation, Mundialito and games for the final tournments, both for the European and the World Championship. A place in the World Championship was not attained yet, but the great evolution of the Female Football in Portugal makes us think that it will be soon. However, the Portuguese selection is not only the main one.
Currently, we have the National Under-19 Selection since 2003, and from 2003 to 2004 we had a National Team of Under-18.

WOMEN NATIONAL TEAM

Our National Team starts, little by little, to impose itself in international Women's Football.

After some years in which the national team couldn't be compared to most of the other teams, there was a great evolution mainly in terms of experience which is visible in the games and in the results achieved. The quality of the game is a better due also to the fact some athletes had been abroad and, once back, brought more experience and quality to the team. Ana Borges (Zaragoza), Sofia Vieira and Edite Fernandes (Athletic of Madrid) and the american-portuguese descendants Kimberly Brandão and Lisette Brandão, are some examples.


Set up in 1891, the portuguese selection has played 152 games, has won 34 times, drawn 19 and lost 99. The selection has scored 137 times and suffered 376 goals.
From the best scorers ever following outstand:
1 - Carla Couto - 22 goals
2- Edite Fernandes - 18 goals
3 - Patrícia Sequeira - 13 goals
4 - Paula Cristina - 10 goals
5 - Sónia Silva - 9 golos


The first national coach was José Pacheco in 1981, nowadays the coach is Mónica Jorge, 31 years old and the only woman in Portugal with the UEFA degree Pro Level IV. Mónica has been assistant coach in the Portuguesa Federation of Football since 2000 and currently leads the national technical team, assisted by Carlos Sacadura.


From the list of coaches of the portuguese women's football team, we can point out the following:
- From 1981 to 1983 - José Pacheco
- From 1996 to 1996 - António Simões
- From 1996 to 1997 - António Violante
- From 1997 t0 2000 - Graça Simões
- From 2000 to 2004 - Nuno Cristóvão
- From 2004 to 2007 - José Augusto
- From 2007 up to now - Mónica Jorge

In the FIFA ranking, Portugal comes in the 40th position:
1st - USA 2197 points
2nd - Germany - 2162
3rd - Brazil - 2125
4th - Sweden - 2069
5th - North Coreia - 2026
6th - Japan - 2011
7th - Norway - 1998
8th - England - 1977
9th - Denmark - 1972
10th - France - 1954
... 40th - Portugal - 1549

THE NATIONAL UNDER-19 SELECTION

The Portuguese Under-19 selection which began in 2002, makes it possible for its athletes to acquire experience that may take them to the main selection.


The first game won by the team by 1-0, was against The Irish Republic on the 2nd October 2002, this game was for the selection for the European Championship. Even though it had never been selected for the European Championship, the under-19 selection, just like A-selection, has demonstrated a great evolution as a result of the good work of the clubs which has been focused on the training of the athletes.


In the 70 games played, the under-19 selection scored 85 goals and suffered 129.
From the best scorers ever the following outstand:
1 - Carolina Mendes - 15 goals
2 - Filipa Galvão - 12 goals
3 - Mélissa Antunes - 5 goals
4 - Ana Borges - 5 goals
5 - Cláudia Neto - 5 goals



The under-19 coaches have been the same who work with thw main selection. In 2002, when Nuno Cristóvão was the National Coach, he was also the under-19 coach, the same happened with José Augusto betwen 2004 and 2007 and now with Mónica Jorge, since 2007. In the under-19 Mónica is assisted by Susana Covas.