C.F. Estrela da Amadora

Clube de Futebol Estrela da Amadora (Portuguese pronunciation: [(ɨ)ʃˈtɾelɐ ðɐ ɐmɐˈðoɾɐ]), sometimes just Estrela, is a Portuguese sports club (prominently football) based in Amadora, northwest of Lisbon.

Founded in 1932, its football team last played in the third division, holding home games at Estádio José Gomes.

History

While never a contender to the place of the third-most important club in the Lisbon Football Association, Estrela da Amadora won a Cup of Portugal in 1990 and one second division championship in 1992–93. In 16 seasons in top flight football – eight consecutive – its best season was in 1997–98, when the team finished in seventh position, under the guidance of Fernando Santos, later of F.C. Porto, Sporting Clube de Portugal, S.L. Benfica and Greek national team fame.

After winning the cup in 1990, Estrela reached the second round in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In the following decades, the team maintained its first division status in most seasons. In 2008–09, however, amidst serious financial difficulties, it was (twice) relegated even though it finished the campaign in mid-table.