Clube Desportivo Nacional (), commonly known as Nacional da Madeira and sometimes just Nacional, is a Portuguese football club based in Funchal, on the island of Madeira.
Founded on 8 December 1910, it currently plays in the Liga Portugal, Portugal's top-tier division of professional football. It plays its home games at Estádio da Madeira, also known as Estádio da Choupana. Built in 1998 and named at the time Estádio Eng. Rui Alves after the current club president Rui Alves, it seats approximately 5,200 people. The stadium is located in the north of Funchal, high in the mountains of the Choupana district. The club's home colours are black and white striped shirts with black shorts and socks. Nacional is also known for being one of the clubs that formed Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo and to honour the club's most famous player they named their youth training facilities Cristiano Ronaldo Câmpus Futebol.
The Alvinegros played in the Primeira Liga in 1988âÂÂ91, 2002âÂÂ17, 2018âÂÂ19 and 2020âÂÂ21. Their best top-tier league finish was fourth in the 2003âÂÂ04 and 2008âÂÂ09 seasons, with Brazilian striker Nenê winning the Bola da Prata for top scorer with 20 goals in the latter. They have played in the UEFA Europa League on five occasions between 2004 and 2014, beating Zenit St. Petersburg in the play-off round and taking third place in the group stage in 2009âÂÂ10. The team has reached the Taça de Portugal semi-finals four times between 2009 and 2023, and the Taça da Liga semi-final in 2010âÂÂ11. Notable managers include Manuel Machado, who led the team in five spells from 2005 to 2021. They currently play in Primera Liga, after they got promoted from the 2023âÂÂ24 Liga Portugal 2.
Like many other Portuguese clubs, Nacional operates several sports teams outside the football team. Other sports groups within the organisation include beach soccer, boxing, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, tennis, triathlon, muay thai, padel, rallying, swimming and veterans' soccer.
Nacional reached the first division for the first time ever with a three-season spell from 1988. Under manager José Peseiro, the team returned for 2002âÂÂ03 after winning promotion in third place. The team finished comfortably in 11th, with results including a 1âÂÂ0 home win over S.L. Benfica on 28 September 2002 and a 3âÂÂ2 win at C.S. MarÃÂtimo in the Madeira derby the following 2 February. Peseiro's successor Casemiro Mior took the team to a joint-best 4th place in 2003âÂÂ04, including another home win over Benfica, shortly after that team had knocked them out of the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal. Stars of this team included Brazilians Paulo Assunção (defensive midfielder) and forward Adriano (16 and 19 goals in respective seasons), both of whom later played for FC Porto.
Nacional's debut European season in the 2004âÂÂ05 UEFA Cup ended in the first round with a 4âÂÂ1 aggregate loss to Spain's Sevilla FC. In January 2005, Mior left for Club Athletico Paranaense in his homeland. Manuel Machado led the team to fifth in 2005âÂÂ06, again reaching the UEFA Cup, but left due to his wife and children living in continental Portugal. The club's second run in European competition again ended at the first hurdle, 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate to CS Rapid BucureÃÂti of Romania.
Under the returning Machado in 2008âÂÂ09, again edged S.C. Braga for fourth spot. Brazilian forward Nenê earned the Bola da Prata for top scorer with 20 goals, three more than Benfica's ÃÂscar Cardozo and Sporting CP's Liédson. The side also reached the last-four in the Portuguese Cup, losing on aggregate 5âÂÂ4 to F.C. Paços de Ferreira, with the decider coming at the Estádio da Madeira in the 90th minute.
Nacional started the 2009âÂÂ10 season without Nenê, who was sold in June to Cagliari Calcio of the Italian Serie A for a fee potentially rising to â¬10 million. However, in August the club won a European tie for the first time, defeating 2008 champions FC Zenit Saint Petersburg 5âÂÂ4 on aggregate in the playoffs of the renamed UEFA Europa League; the team were heading out on the away goals rule until a last-minute goal from youngster Rúben Micael earned a 1âÂÂ1 draw in Russia. Nacional were eliminated in the group stage, third behind SV Werder Bremen and Athletic Bilbao but ahead of FK Austria Wien. In 2010âÂÂ11, former club players Predrag Jokanoviàand Ivo Vieira led the team to 6th and a European return, as well as the semi-finals of the Taça da Liga for the first time (at Porto's expense), losing 4âÂÂ3 to Paços de Ferreira. In the following season, following Europa League playoff elimination by Birmingham City, the team made the national cup semi-finals again, losing 5âÂÂ3 on aggregate to Sporting.
In his fourth of five spells as Nacional manager, Machado led the team to 5th in 2013âÂÂ14, making the Europa League playoffs and falling at the first hurdle 5âÂÂ2 on aggregate to FC Dinamo Minsk of Belarus. In the 2014âÂÂ15 Taça de Portugal they made a third semi-final in seven years, again losing to Sporting. The 2016âÂÂ17 season, which included JokanoviÃÂ's fourth spell as manager, ended with relegation in last place, a conclusion to 15 years in the top flight.
Former Portugal international Costinha was hired in 2017 and won promotion at the first attempt as champions of the 2017âÂÂ18 LigaPro; Cape Verde international striker Ricardo Gomes was the league's top scorer with 22 goals in 36 games and left the club for FK Partizan in Serbia at the end of his contract. Costinha left after relegation from the 2018âÂÂ19 Primeira Liga, in which results included a 10âÂÂ0 loss to eventual winners Benfica.
The 2019âÂÂ20 LigaPro was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal, resulting in promotion for first-placed Nacional; it was the sixth promotion in the career of 34-year-old manager LuÃÂs Freire. The team were immediately relegated in last place, with Freire sacked in March 2021 and Machado seeing out the season in his fifth spell. The team reached the semi-finals of the 2022âÂÂ23 Taça de Portugal, losing 7âÂÂ2 on aggregate to Braga, while the league season went to the final day; a 3âÂÂ2 home win over Académico de Viseu F.C. after losing at half time saved the team in 14th place while B-SAD took the relegation playoff position.
After 13 seasons with Hummel, the team announced its new partnership with Kappa ahead of the 2025âÂÂ26 season.
The Estádio da Madeira, better known as the Choupana, houses Nacional. The current stadium is located around nearby training pitches. The club also built an academy campus in the name of its most famous player, Cristiano Ronaldo. The stadium was renovated in 2007, with a new stand added and also capacity increased to 5,200 spectators. The total price of the renovations was â¬23 million.
In these new facilities, no stands were put behind the goals, with a tall fence used in its place. In mid-2007, the stadium name was changed to Estádio da Madeira, because of the excellent sports facilities.
Nacional has a big rivalry with Madeira-neighbours MarÃÂtimo. Historically, MarÃÂtimo dominated Nacional in the early years, being the first to reach European competition.
<small> Last updated: 28 August 2014<br /> Q = Qualifying; PO = Play-off </small>
Competitive matches only, includes appearances as used substitute.
Competitive matches only, includes goals as used substitute.