Lusitano GC Évora

The name "Lusitano" is derived from Lusitania, the Roman name for the Roman province corresponding to the current territory of Portugal south of the Douro river plus the modern-day Spanish region of Extremadura, and it is a generally accepted synonym of Portuguese. The Lusitanians (Lusitanos in Portuguese language) was the people of Lusitania.

Motto

The club's motto is Fazer Forte Fraca Gente (Portuguese for Making the Weak Stronger).

Foundation

The club was founded 11 November 1911 (11-11-1911 in a sport played with 11 players). In addition, its first headquarters was in Travessa da Bola No. 11, in Évora.

Anthem

The club's anthem was composed by poet Celestino David in 1926

First victories

In 1917/18 Lusitano won its first Evora FA championship. It would win many district championships afterwards (1921/22, 1922/23, 1926/27, 1927/28, 1928/29. 1930/31, 1932/33, 1933/34, 1934/35, 1939/40, 1940/41).

The year 1925 proved decisive for the future of the club. At the initiative of historical leaders such as José Benchimol, Napoleão Palma, Alberto da Conceição and António Prazeres, the club was restructured, the facilities were reorganized and its action extended to other modalities, with emphasis on gymnastics that would reach great projection. Lusitano started investing on a concept of full personal development, involving the man and the athlete, a design that would be the hallmark of all those who have passed through their teams over the years.

Between 1929/30 and 1933/34 the Eborians competed in the Campeonato de Portugal, without recording significant results. The club obtained its best classification in 1930/31, reaching the quarter-finals lost to Benfica.

In 1931 the mythical Campo Estrela was purchased. On 6 November 1932, Lusitano beat Benfica 4–1 in Evora in a friendly match. Between 1934/35 and 1937/38 the club was one of the forerunners of the League Championship of the Second Division. In the 1938/39 season the Portuguese Championship was renamed Taça de Portugal (TP) and the 2nd Division championship was created.

The golden age

In 1951/52 Lusitano became National Champion of the Segunda Divisão, after winning the final pool of the competition with Vitória de Setúbal, Torreense and U. de Coimbra. It was a sublime moment in the history of the club.

The last game, refereed by António Calheiros, took place in Campo Estrela on 6 January 1952 and ended with a 0–0 draw between Eborians and Sadinos. Lusitano lined-up with the following roster: Dinis Vital; Eduardo and Soeiro; Madeira, Valle and Paulo; Pepe, Di Paola, Teixeira da Silva, Duarte and Domingo.

The entrance of the club in the greater division of Portuguese football was commemorated all around the city. The famous Praça do Geraldo received countless expressions of joy.

Évora entered the map of Portuguese football. The winning coach, was former Lazio and Banfield player Anselmo Pisa.

On 28 September 1952 Dinis Vital, Soeiro, Paixão, Madeira, Valle, Paulo, Flora, Di Paola, Patalino, Batalha and Duarte debuted in the competition. In the 1952/53 season Lusitano achieved a record that was only beaten the by Famalicão in the 2019/2020 season, i.e., never a newly promoted team was leading the table by the 5th matchday.

Also in 1952 the Players Statute was approved. The document contained the rights and duties of the players, defined the prizes policy and praised correctness, loyalty and fair play.

Also in the Taça de Portugal the club surprised, by eliminating Sporting in the quarter-finals.

A 3–3 draw in 1953/54, in Évora, against Sporting and the victory against Porto by 2-0 encouraged leaders and supporters.

In the 1954/55 season, already under the command of Cândido Tavares, the club finished 10th place in the Primeira Divisão, having beaten Sporting 2–1. Also FC Porto with Barrigana, Hernâni and Pedroto would crash in Campo Estrela 2–1. "Porto scored first yesterday in Évora - but did not escape defeat ..." - titled A Bola. In the Taça de Portugal, wins 2–1 against V. de Guimarães and 2–0 against FC Porto.

In 1955/56, Lusitano finished 8th. Under the guidance of Severiano Correia, the base team included Dinis Vital, Polido, Paixão, José da Costa, Falé, Vicente, Batalha, Vieira, Patalino, Caraça and José Pedro. Special highlight for the 1–1 draw against Sporting in Évora, in a game that inaugurated the new pitch of Campo Estrela. In the Estádio da Luz a 1–1 draw against Benfica.

In the 1956/57 season, led by Otto Bumbel, the club achieved its best performance in the biggest event of Portuguese football, reaching an exceptional 5th place.

Won 13 out of 26 matches and recorded impressive results during the competition: wins in Evora by 3–2 against Porto (Flora hat-trick) and 2–1 against Sporting, as well as 1-1 draws in Estádio José Alvalade and 2 -2 at the Estádio da Luz.

In the 1957/58 season, already under the guidance of Lorenzo Ausina, Lusitano obtained a resounding victory against Benfica by 4–0, in the 8th matchday, at Campo Estrela.

In 1958/59, high note for the draws 0-0 and 3–3 at Campo Estrela, against Benfica and Sporting, respectively and return to the Cup semi-finals (eliminated by FC Porto).

Otto Bumbel returned to the club in 61/62, but the league streak confirmed the downward trend (12th place with 20 pts). Highlight, in any case, for another victory against Sporting, in the knockout round of the Cup (4–1).

Already under the command of Josef Fabian, in 1962/63 Lusitano obtained an honorable 7th place with 23 points. In terms of Taça de Portugal the club obtained its biggest victory so far in official games, beating Portalegrense, in the first round, in Evora, 10–0.