C.D. Tondela

Clube Desportivo de Tondela () is a Portuguese professional football club that plays in Liga Portugal 2, the second tier of Portuguese football. They are based in the town of Tondela and play in the Estádio João Cardoso. Founded in 1933, the club predominantly played within Portugal's regional leagues until their climb up the league pyramid after 2004.

History

Foundation and early years (1933–1986)

On 6 June 1933, Clube Desportivo de Tondela was founded through a merger of two clubs in the village of Tondela: the Tondela Football Club, founded in 1925, and the Operário Atlético Clube, founded in 1932.

Third Division (1986–1988)

On the 1985–86 season, Tondela won the Divisão Honra title for the third time and achieved the promotion to the Terceira Divisão for the first time. They came in 10th in their first season on a competition ruled by the Portuguese Football Federation. They were relegated in the next season as they finished in 15th.

Lower divisions (1999–2005)

After the relegation from Terceira Divisão in 1999, Tondela went on to compete in the Viseu Regional Division.

In the 2003–04 season, Tondela won the Taça AF Viseu, also known as Taça Sócios de Mérito, the club's first piece of silverware since 1986. In the next season, Tondela became champion of the AF Viseu Liga de Honra. They ended the season eight points ahead of runners-up Tarouquense, and ensured the return to Terceira Divisão.

Days later, Tondela retained the Taça AF Viseu title thus sealing the season with the double.

Returning to Third Division (2005–2009)

During the 2005–08 seasons, Tondela consolidated its position as an upper mid table club, ending those three seasons always in the seventh place.

In the 2008–09 season, Tondela signed central defender Diego, midfielder Gomes and Argentine striker Piojo. On 6 June 2009, Tondela became Third Division champion, after a 4–2 win against Fiães, thus being promoted to Segunda Divisão.

Second Division Era (2009–2012)

After the promotion from the Third Division, and a fourth place in the 2009–10 season, Tondela aimed the promotion to Segunda Liga. During the 2010 summer transfer window, Tondela signed Portuguese under-17 European champion, playmaker Márcio Sousa, veteran goalkeeper Rui Marcos and midfielder Fernando Ferreira. The club finished third in the 2010–11 season with 55 points. Despite not reaching their objectives, Tondela supporters wanted the continuity of manager Filipe Moreira, but he eventually left to Oriental.

The following season, former Benfica and Portugal player, Vítor Paneira was appointed as the new manager. Paneira further increased the efforts to build a solid Tondela team, with such signings as midfielders Magano and Tiago Barros, and Brazilian striker Rafael Batatinha.

Tondela topped the table after a 4–2 win against Espinho on 7 April 2012 and never relinquished their lead. They were crowned champions of Segunda Divisão – Série Centro in Estádio do Bessa after a 1–0 win against Boavista. Their renewed defence, consisting of central defenders Daniel Materazzi, Pica, and the versatile Carlos André, fullbacks Hélder Lopes and Pedrosa, defensive midfielder Fábio Pacheco and former Portuguese under-20 international goalkeeper Nuno Avelino, conceded just 22 goals all season and kept 13 clean sheets.

Consequently, they took part in the promotion play-off against Varzim and Fatima, Serie Norte and Serie Sul champions respectively. On 3 June 2012, after a 1–1 draw against Fatima in Estádio João Cardoso, Tondela achieved their third promotion in eight years, and their first promotion to Segunda Liga. They were runners-up in the play-off, finishing five points behind Varzim.

Joining the Liga de Honra (2012–2015)

The 2012–13 season, the club's first at the professional level, ended with a mid-table finish. It was also Tondela's first appearance in the Taça da Liga.

On 8 November 2013, Paneira was sacked, being replaced three days later by his former teammate, Álvaro Magalhães. After a 9th place in the championship, Álvaro Magalhães left Tondela by "mutual consent" and Carlos Pinto (who had won the 2013–14 Campeonato Nacional with Freamunde) was appointed as the club's new manager. He took with him five players: goalkeeper Rui Nereu, defender Vítor Alves, midfielder Edu Machado and forwards Luís Machado and Joel Silva.

On 6 October 2014, Pinto left Tondela due to poor results. One day later, Quim Machado was announced as Pinto's successor.

The club spent most of the 2014–15 season near the top of the table, and by early April they were at first place. On 24 May 2015, on the final day of the season, a 1–1 draw away at Freamunde

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