C.D. Nacional
Nacional Funchal ( officially: Clube Desportivo Nacional) - known in German-speaking area as Nacional Madeira - is a football club, whose team plays in the Portuguese football league since the 2002/ 03 season. It was founded in 1910 and is in Funchal, Madeira, home. Their home ground is called Estádio da Madeira and has 6000 seats. Overall, the sports center includes two grass and two synthetic grass courts. The club colors are black and white.
History
The previous best result achieved CDN 2003/ 04 with the fourth rank in the first league. CD Nacional Funchal Madeira represented twice so far in the UEFA Cup. In the 2008 /09 season led CD Nacional, the table of the Portuguese league to several weeks. The team from the island came at the end of the fourth place and thus played in the new season in the play-off for the newly formed Europa League. There, the outsider eliminated surprisingly Zenit St. Petersburg. A 4-3 first-leg victory in front of their own backdrop followed in St. Petersburg to a 1-1 draw. In the group stage the team then met with other prominent opponents. These were: Werder Bremen, which previously stood in the playing time in the final of the UEFA Cup, Austria Wien and Athletic Bilbao. In that group Nacional Funchal finished only third place and was eliminated at the end.
Trivia
- Probably the most recognized player at Nacional was Cristiano Ronaldo, who played in his youth there.
- In addition, also played the Swiss goalkeeper in the service of VfL Wolfsburg, Diego Benaglio, before his involvement in Wolfsburg at CD Nacional.
- Also Benaglios now to teammate Felipe Lopes previously played for CD Nacional.
- Also Nacional's city rivals Marítimo Funchal plays in the Portuguese league, as Internacional not entirely unsuccessful.
Known (former) players
(Selection)