Académico de Viseu’s last participation in the Primeira Liga was 37 years ago. In the 1988/1989 season, Académico de Viseu, formerly called Clube Académico de Futebol, got relegated to the second division and seemed destined never to come back. The club were in deep financial trouble and the institution was eventually extinguished. But the love, the spirit, the will lived on. They weren’t dead. They were just asleep.
José Ricardo Leite reports.
The long road back begins
Through a local club (GD Farminhão), Académico de Viseu rose from the ashes with a clear goal in mind: to give back the joy of being on the top shelf of Portuguese football to the city once again. The road ahead was far from easy, having to start in the lowest divisions.
It was only in the 2012/2013 that the Beirões managed to get back into the professional football leagues, in the second tier. The dream was right there, one more step away. But it seemed a dead end had been reached.
In their second season back, Académico had to see their local rivals, Tondela, go up to the Primeira Liga for the first time. Two seasons later, the men in black were almost relegated, saving themselves in a playoff match. The fight against relegation became the “new normal” for Académico’s subsequent seasons… until the ultimate game changer.
German investor Dietmar Hopps hops on board
In 2021, Dietmar Hopp, the major shareholder of the German club Hoffenheim, bought Académico de Viseu’s SAD, creating a unique partnership between the two clubs. It looked like the stars were finally aligned for the Beirões to climb back up.
However, much like a man shall not live of bread alone, a club shall not succeed through money alone. Dietmar was quick to bring in players who were young but had no space in a German club fighting for a place in the Champions League. Soufiane Messeguem, Domen Gril and André Clóvis were some of the names added to the squad thanks to the newfound wealth.
But there was something missing. Even though Académico were no longer fighting against relegation, the Estádio do Fontelo only had a handful of supporters. The people were tuned out of the club. The passion, the spirit, the will were still sound asleep. The people were quiet; they needed to feel that passion reflected on the pitch. And this season, Dietmar had an epiphany. A combination of academy youngsters who have been at the club for ages, alongside veteran players that used to play in Viseu, and the players brought in from abroad was the way to go.
Fonseca brings the passion
After a rough start coach Sérgio Vieira was let go and Sérgio Fonseca was brought in, another important piece in the jigsaw to rebuild the spirit that had been missing. Fonseca was a former player for the club, making more than 300 appearances. He became captain and once his playing career was over, he became a coach in Académico’s academy.
He managed to pass on this passion not only to the players, but to the people of Viseu. The Fontelo was full again, the people were reunited around the club. Suddenly, the stadium was too small for the supporters and fan zones were created to accommodate the thousands who wanted to watch the matches together.
Back in the promised land and back to stay!
The city was brought back to life. And Académico was brought back to the place it belongs. 37 years later. After being extinguished and resuscitated. After playing in the local leagues and the lower national divisions. After fighting against relegation year after year. Viseu is joyful again. Viseu is partying again. Viseu has the Viriathus spirit once again. Viseu is in the top tier.
But this isn’t the end. This is just the beginning of a new era. Viseu is awake and it doesn’t intend to ever go back to sleep.
