Editing Sporting CP (section)

==History==

===Foundation (1902–1906)===
[[File:SportingCP League Performance.svg|300px|thumb|right|alt=Evolution of Sporting Clube de Portugal's league performances since 1938|Evolution of Sporting Clube de Portugal's league performances since 1938]]
Sporting Clube de Portugal has its origins in June 1902, when a group of young men including Francisco da Ponte e Horta Gavazzo and his brother José Maria decided to create ''Sport Club de Belas''. This club, the first ancestor of Sporting, played just one match and at the end of the year's summer, disbanded. Two years later, the idea of creating a football club was revived, and this time, with the Gavazzo brothers joined by [[José Alvalade]] (José Holtreman Roquette) and José Stromp; a new club, the ''Campo Grande Football Club'', was founded. They played their matches on the estate of the [[Alfredo Augusto das Neves Holtreman, 1st Viscount of Alvalade|Viscount of Alvalade (Alfredo Holtreman)]], José Alvalade's grandfather, with the club's headquarters located in Francisco Gavazzo's home. For two years, the club developed an intense activity on several sports, namely football, [[tennis]] and [[fencing]].

[[File:José de alvalade.jpg|thumb|160px|[[José Alvalade]] founded Sporting with the backing of his grandfather.]]

The club also organized parties and picnics. Eventually, during one picnic, on 12 April 1906, discussions erupted, as some members defended that the club should only be focused on organizing picnics and social events, with another group defending that the club should be focused on the practising of sports instead. ageSome time later, José Gavazzo, José Alvalade and 17 other members left the club, with José Alvalade saying: "I'll go to my grandad and he'll give me money to make another club."<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-21 |title=O Sporting é fruto do amor de um avô pelo seu neto |url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/o-sporting-e-fruto-do-amor-de-um-avo-pelo-seu-neto-6234009.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=DN |language=pt-PT |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031000749/https://www.dn.pt/desporto/o-sporting-e-fruto-do-amor-de-um-avo-pelo-seu-neto-6234009.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting.pt/en/club/museum/featured-areas|title=Museum featured areas|website=Sporting CP|date=26 November 2014|access-date=7 December 2015|archive-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120134942/http://www.sporting.pt/en/club/museum/featured-areas|url-status=live}}</ref> As such, a new club, without a name, was founded on 8 May 1906, and on 26 May,<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=As datas de funda&ccedil;&atilde;o dos "grandes": O Sport Lisboa, o Campo Grande e os dois&nbsp;Portos |url=https://www.record.pt/opiniao/escrevem-os-leitores/detalhe/as-datas-de-fundacao-dos-grandes-o-sport-lisboa-o-campo-grande-e-os-dois-portos |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Record |language=pt-PT}}</ref> it was named "Campo Grande Sporting Clube".{{efn|name=foundation}} The Viscount of Alvalade, whose money and land helped found the club, was the first president of Sporting.<ref name="scphistory">{{cite web|title=Resumo Histórico|date=10 March 2015|trans-title=Historical Summary|url=https://www.sporting.pt/pt/clube|publisher=Sporting Clube de Portugal|access-date=22 September 2018|archive-date=11 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911191627/https://www.sporting.pt/pt/clube|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Montero |first=José Luís |date=2015-10-18 |title=O Passado Também Chuta: O Visconde de Alvalade |url=https://bolanarede.pt/rubricas/o-passado-tambem-chuta/o-passado-tambem-chuta-o-visconde-de-alvalade/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Bola na Rede |language=pt-PT |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115125644/https://bolanarede.pt/rubricas/o-passado-tambem-chuta/o-passado-tambem-chuta-o-visconde-de-alvalade/ |url-status=live }}</ref> José Alvalade, as one of the main founders and first club member (''sócio''), uttered on behalf of himself and his fellow co-founders: "We want this club to be a great club, as great as the greatest in Europe."<ref name="scphistory" /> Beyond José Holtreman Roquette (José Alvalade) and his grandfather Alfredo das Neves Holtreman (Viscount of Alvalade), among the founders were also the brothers [[António Stromp|António]], José and [[Francisco Stromp]], the Gavazzo brothers, José Maria do Couto Valente da Ponte and José Ferreira Roquette.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resumo da História do Sporting |url=https://www.dn.pt/dossiers/desporto/sporting/as-vitorias-historicas/interior/resumo-da-historia-do-sporting-1004281.html/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Diário de Notícias |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=3.500 celebram centenário na relva de Alvalade |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/sporting/detalhe/3500-celebram-centenario-na-relva-de-alvalade |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Record |language=pt-PT}}</ref> Two months later, on 1 July 1906,{{efn|name=foundation}} António Félix da Costa Júnior suggested the name ''Sporting Clube de Portugal'', and since 1920 that is the club's foundation date.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clube |url=https://www.sporting.pt/pt/tax_noticias/clube?page=237 |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Sporting |language=pt-pt |archive-date=2 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102004200/https://www.sporting.pt/pt/tax_noticias/clube?page=237 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|name=foundation}}

===Early years (1907–1946)===
[[File:viscondedealvalade.jpg|thumb|160px|[[Alfredo Holtreman]], Viscount of Alvalade was the first president, sponsor and protector of Sporting.]]The year 1907 marked some "firsts" for the club, as Sporting played the first football match of their history on 3 February, ending in a 5–1 defeat against third division club ''Cruz Negra;'' inaugurated their first ground, known as "''Sítio das Mouras''" (the most advanced in Portugal at the time, equipped with showers, two tennis courts, an athletics track and a football field) on 4 July; and played the first derby of all time against local rivals [[S.L. Benfica]] (then known as ''Grupo Sport Lisboa'') on 1 December.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Sporting Clube Portugal&nbsp;– Fotobiografia por Rui Guedes|publisher = Publicações Dom Quixote|year = 1988|location = Lisbon|pages = XVII-XIX}}</ref> As early as 1909, the following sports were practised at the sports club: football, running and jumping (athletics), physical exercise (gymnastics), rope-wrestling, tennis, cricket and field hockey.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-10 |title=Resume |url=https://www.sporting.pt/en/club/history/resume |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Sporting |language=en}}</ref>

The club also released their first report card on 31 March 1922, titled ''"Boletim do Sporting"'' (Sporting's Report), lending the foundation for the later called ''"Jornal do Sporting"'', the official newspaper of the club, that still exists today.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://atascadocherba.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/aniversariojornal.jpg |title=Razao de Ser |website=atascadocherba.com |access-date=2 October 2021 |archive-date=26 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226195416/http://atascadocherba.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/aniversariojornal.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sporting played their first [[Primeira Liga]] game (the 1st Division of Portuguese football) ever on 20 January 1935, winning 0–6 against [[Associação Académica de Coimbra&nbsp;– O.A.F.|Académica de Coimbra]]. A year later, in 1936, the club had their heaviest ever defeat against [[FC Porto|Porto]], losing 10–1. Sporting, however, got their revenge a year later, when they humbled the same team with a 9–1 result. In 1941, under the guidance of Hungarian manager [[József Szabó (footballer, born 1896)|József Szabó]], the club celebrated the first league title of their history.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

===Golden years and fading (1946–1982)===
[[File:European Cup Winners' Cup trophy at Museum Mundo Sporting.JPG|thumb|The 1963-64 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup won by Sporting at Museum ''Mundo Sporting''|200px]]

The football team had their height during the 1940s and 1950s. It was spearheaded by [[Fernando Peyroteo]], [[José Travassos]], [[Albano Pereira]], [[Jesus Correia]] and [[Manuel Vasques]], in a quintet nicknamed "The Five Violins".<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/efemeride/sporting/o-dia-em-que-os-cinco-violinos-marcaram-12-golos|title = O dia em que os cinco violinos marcaram 12 golos (The day the five violins scored 12 goals)|date = 16 February 2015|access-date = 22 December 2015|website = maisfutebol.iol.pt|publisher = Sara Marques|archive-date = 20 June 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180620180731/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/efemeride/sporting/o-dia-em-que-os-cinco-violinos-marcaram-12-golos|url-status = live}}</ref> With the violins' help, Sporting won seven league titles in eight seasons between 1947 and 1954, including a then unprecedented four in a row from 1950 to 1951 onwards. Fernando Peyroteo, the most known of "the violins", is considered one of the greatest Portuguese players of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/better-messi-pele-muller-how-cristiano-ronaldos-scoring-stacks#:rwB5cG3Wa6XYxA|title = Better than Messi, Pele, Muller: How Cristiano Ronaldo's scoring stacks up|date = 19 October 2015|access-date = 22 December 2015|website = fourfourtwo.com|publisher = Chris Flanagan|archive-date = 23 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223034347/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/better-messi-pele-muller-how-cristiano-ronaldos-scoring-stacks#:rwB5cG3Wa6XYxA|url-status = live}}</ref>

Sporting and the Yugoslavian team [[FK Partizan|Partizan]] both made history on 4 September 1955, as they played the first-ever UEFA Champion Clubs' Cup match. Sporting player João Martins scored the first-ever goal of the competition, on the 14th minute. The match ended in a 3–3 draw.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0253-0d806e351eaa-c122dffd9552-1000--sixty-five-years-of-european-club-football/|title = When Sporting and Partizan broke new ground|date = 4 September 2015|access-date = 22 December 2015|publisher = UEFA|author = José Nuno Pimentel|archive-date = 29 November 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201129030213/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0253-0d806e351eaa-c122dffd9552-1000--sixty-five-years-of-european-club-football/?referrer=%2fuefachampionsleague%2fnews%2fnewsid%3d2274124|url-status = live}}</ref> Sporting also inaugurated their new venue, ''[[Estádio José Alvalade (1956)|José Alvalade Stadium]]'', on 10 June 1956, which would be their home ground until 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vaza |first=Marco |date=2003-05-23 |title=Sporting despede-se de Alvalade |url=https://www.publico.pt/2003/05/24/jornal/sporting-despedese-de-alvalade-201576 |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=PÚBLICO |language=pt |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015191231/https://www.publico.pt/2003/05/24/jornal/sporting-despedese-de-alvalade-201576 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 1960s, Sporting achieved continental success, winning the [[1963–64 European Cup Winners' Cup|1963–64 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]], defeating [[MTK Hungária FC|MTK Budapest]] of Hungary in the final. It was the only time a Portuguese team side won a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup title.<ref>{{cite news| title =1963/64: Sporting at the second attempt| url =http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season=1963/intro.html| publisher =UEFA| date =1964-05-01| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100629112428/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season%3D1963/intro.html| archive-date =29 June 2010}}</ref> The team entered the competition defeating [[Atalanta B.C.|Atalanta]] in the qualifying round, then past Cypriot club [[APOEL FC|APOEL]] in what was the biggest win in a single UEFA competitions game to date: 16–1, a record that still stands today. On the next round, they lost 4–1 to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] at [[Old Trafford]] in the first hand, but made a remarkable comeback at home, winning 5–0. In the semi-finals, Sporting eliminated [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]], and in the end MTK Budapest, in a two-round final to win their first European title. The winning goal was scored by [[João Morais]] from a direct corner kick.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/news/kind=8192/newsid=3569.html |title=1963/64: Sporting at the second attempt |date=2001-08-17 |access-date=2015-11-24 |publisher=UEFA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519112850/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/news/kind=8192/newsid=3569.html |archive-date=19 May 2008 }}</ref>

Under the leadership of president [[João Rocha]], the first project of club-company in Portugal was approved by Sporting CP's affiliated partners (''sócios'') in November 1973, and denominated "Society of Constructions and Planning" (''SCP, Sociedade de Construções e Planeamento''). The Portuguese government authorised the establishment of the company and the issue of 2.5 million [[Share (finance)|shares]], with a nominal value of 100 [[Portuguese escudo|escudos]] each.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2013-03-08 |title=João Rocha, do Sporting à banca e às empresas |url=https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/economia/joao-rocha-do-sporting-a-banca-e-as-empresas-12629632.html |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Dinheiro Vivo |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Roseiro |first=Bruno |title=Sporting. João Rocha, o "eterno presidente" que dá nome ao pavilhão |url=https://observador.pt/2017/06/21/sporting-joao-rocha-o-eterno-presidente-que-da-nome-ao-pavilhao/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}}</ref> The club-company project with issuance of stock was hampered shortly after due to the events of the [[Carnation Revolution]] of 1974 and the subsequent [[Processo Revolucionário em Curso]] of 1975 (the creation of [[Sociedade Anónima Desportiva|''Sociedades Anónimas Desportivas'']] ("Public limited sports companies") would be later available in Portugal through a new legal status only introduced in the 1990s).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-08 |title=Quatro antigos presidentes do Sporting não esquecem João Rocha |url=https://www.publico.pt/2013/03/08/desporto/noticia/dias-da-cunha-soares-franco-sousa-cintra-e-santana-lopes-nao-esqueceram-joao-rocha-1587095 |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=PÚBLICO |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sociedades Desportivas |url=https://www.parlamento.pt/Legislacao/Paginas/Desporto_Sociedadesdesportivas.aspx |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Parlamento |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

The club reached the semi-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1974, but lost to eventual winners [[1. FC Magdeburg]] of East Germany.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

===First league title drought (1982–2000)===
[[File:Sporting Clube de Portugal.svg|thumb|Club emblem used from 1945 to 2001|200px]]
English manager [[Malcolm Allison]] arrived at Sporting in 1981, and under his guidance the club won the domestic double (league title and Portuguese cup), in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.publico.pt/noticia/malcolm-allison-19272010-o-treinador-que-gostava-de-viver-para-la-do-futebol-1461321|title = Malcolm Allison (1927–2010), o treinador que gostava de viver para lá do futebol|date = 16 October 2010|access-date = 26 December 2015|website = publico.pt|publisher = Marco Vaza|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160405042341/https://www.publico.pt/noticia/malcolm-allison-19272010-o-treinador-que-gostava-de-viver-para-la-do-futebol-1461321|archive-date = 5 April 2016}}</ref> In the years between 1982 and 2000, Sporting suffered from a drought of titles. Despite defeating rivals Benfica 4–0 on aggregate to win the Portuguese Super Cup in 1987, Sporting fans had to wait until 1995 to see their team win some silverware after beating [[Club Sport Marítimo|Marítimo]] 2–0 in the [[1995 Taça de Portugal Final|final of the 1995 Portuguese Cup]]. That victory granted Sporting a place in the [[1995 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|following season's Portuguese Super Cup]]. After drawing 0–0 at the [[José Alvalade Stadium]] and securing a 2–2 draw at the [[Estádio das Antas]], a replay match was held on 30 April 1996 at the [[Parc de Princes]] in Paris. Sporting won 3–0 with [[Sá Pinto]] scoring twice and [[Carlos Xavier]] scoring a stoppage time penalty. In the same 1995–96 season, Sporting also reached the [[1995–96 Taça de Portugal|Portuguese Cup Final]] but lost 3–1 to Benfica.

Highlights of this period of time also include a 7–1 victory over arch-rivals Benfica at the [[Estádio José Alvalade (1956)|old José Alvalade Stadium]] on 14 December 1986. Sporting also reached the [[1990–91 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup semi-final]] in 1991, losing against [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/season=1990/index.html |title=1990/91: Matthäus makes the difference for Inter&nbsp;– |publisher=UEFA |access-date=2012-11-16 |archive-date=15 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615210059/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/season=1990/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also, [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and [[Real Madrid]] were both tied and defeated in Lisbon when playing against Sporting in the old UEFA Cup, in the 1986–87 and 1994–95 seasons, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1994/matches/round=651/index.html|title=UEFA Europa League 1994/95 – History – Matches&nbsp;– UEFA.com|publisher=UEFA|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=1 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201115402/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1994/matches/round=651/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/clubs/50149--sporting-cp/|title=UEFA Europa League 1986/87 – History – Sporting CP&nbsp;– UEFA.com|publisher=UEFA|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=17 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317162601/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/clubs/50149--sporting-cp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1998, Sporting had created the Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, [[Sociedade Anónima Desportiva|SAD]], a public limited sports company for its football department, which went public on the [[Euronext Lisbon|Lisbon Stock Exchange]] in that year at a price of 1,000 [[escudo]]s (the equivalent of about five [[euro]]s at the time) per [[Share (finance)|share]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ações da Sporting SAD valorizaram-se 6% este ano mas só negociaram 128 mil euros |url=https://24.sapo.pt/desporto/artigos/acoes-da-sporting-sad-valorizaram-se-6-este-ano-mas-so-negociaram-128-mil-euros |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=24.sapo.pt}}</ref>

===The turn of the millennium (2000–2002)===
[[File:Augusto Inácio.jpg|thumb|Sporting CP's manager and former player [[Augusto Inácio]] won the [[Primeira Liga]] title in 2000<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tovar |first=Rui Miguel |title=Inácio. "O Sporting campeão em 2000? Nem o Spielberg" |url=https://observador.pt/especiais/inacio-o-sporting-campeao-em-2000-nem-o-spielberg/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105124244/https://observador.pt/especiais/inacio-o-sporting-campeao-em-2000-nem-o-spielberg/ |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
In [[1999–2000 Primeira Liga|2000]], Sporting, led by manager [[Augusto Inácio]] (a former Sporting player, who replaced [[Giuseppe Materazzi]] at the beginning of the season), won the league title on the last match day, with a 4–0 victory over [[S.C. Salgueiros|Salgueiros]], ending an 18-year drought.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} In the following season, Sporting conquered the [[2000 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|2000 Super Cup]] but came third in the [[2000–01 Primeira Liga|league]]. In the 2001–02 season, led by coach [[László Bölöni]], Sporting conquered their [[2001–02 Primeira Liga|18th league title]], the [[2001–02 Taça de Portugal|Portuguese Cup]] and the [[2002 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|2002 Portuguese Super Cup]]. On 21 June 2002, the club had opened its [[Academia Sporting|training facility]], located in [[Alcochete]], 30&nbsp;km east of Lisbon.

On 14 August 2002,<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |title=History: Sporting CP-Inter: UEFA Champions League 2002/03 Qualif. 3 |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/70011--sporting-cp-vs-inter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224104313/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/70011--sporting-cp-vs-inter/ |archive-date=24 December 2023 |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=[[UEFA]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], then 17, played his first official match for a Sporting CP's senior team, in a [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds|UEFA Champions League qualifying round]] at home against [[Inter Milan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=38 anos, 38 momentos marcantes da carreira de Cristiano Ronaldo |url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/internacional/artigos/38-anos-38-momentos-marcantes-da-carreira-de-cristiano-ronaldo |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=SAPO Desporto |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web  |date=10 September 2021 |title=Cristiano Ronaldo's five senior debuts in his career and how he fared in them |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/cristiano-ronaldos-five-senior-debuts-in-his-career-and-how-he-fared-in-them-man-utd-real-madrid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224110015/https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/cristiano-ronaldos-five-senior-debuts-in-his-career-and-how-he-fared-in-them-man-utd-real-madrid |archive-date=24 December 2023 |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=Planet Football |language=en}}</ref> On 1 September 2002, in the [[Azores]], Cristiano Ronaldo debuted as a senior player in official domestic competitions playing for [[Sporting CP B]] in a 2–1 away loss against [[S.C. Lusitânia|Sport Clube Lusitânia]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sabia Que o 1º jogo como sénior de Cristiano Ronaldo foi nos Açores? |url=https://www.iloveazores.net/2016/06/sabia-que-o-1-jogo-como-senior-de.html |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=I Love Azores |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810233848/https://www.iloveazores.net/2016/06/sabia-que-o-1-jogo-como-senior-de.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and on 29 September he made his debut in the Primeira Liga, playing for Sporting CP's main team in a way match against [[S.C. Braga|SC Braga]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-02 |title=A estreia de Cristiano Ronaldo na Liga foi há 20 anos, em Braga. Depois, tudo mudou |url=https://ominho.pt/a-estreia-de-cristiano-ronaldo-na-liga-foi-ha-20-anos-em-braga-depois-tudo-mudou/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=O Minho |language=pt-PT |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015191231/https://ominho.pt/a-estreia-de-cristiano-ronaldo-na-liga-foi-ha-20-anos-em-braga-depois-tudo-mudou/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Second league title drought (2002–2021)===

====2002–2009====
[[File:Estádio Alvalade XXI.jpg|thumb|273x273px|A new stadium, [[Estádio José Alvalade]], was inaugurated in 2003.]]
Sporting have failed to win [[Primeira Liga]] again since 2002. On 6 August 2003, the new Sporting CP's stadium, the [[Estádio José Alvalade]], was inaugurated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atual Estádio José Alvalade foi inaugurado há 13 anos |url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/sporting/inauguracao/atual-estadio-jose-alvalade-foi-inaugurado-ha-13-anos |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Maisfutebol |language=pt |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015191231/https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/sporting/inauguracao/atual-estadio-jose-alvalade-foi-inaugurado-ha-13-anos |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2004–05 Sporting CP season|2004–05 season]], [[José Peseiro]]-led Sporting was leading the [[2004–05 Primeira Liga|Primeira Liga]] and was trailing a remarkable journey in [[2004–05 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]]. However, at the end of the season, the team eventually lost all the chances of winning any trophy that season: the first set-back had already happened on 26 January 2005 when Sporting was eliminated from Taça de Portugal after losing 7–6 on penalties against Benfica. Nevertheless, Sporting was able to reach the leadership of Primeira Liga, and on 5 May the team booked their second European final, after defeating Dutch team [[AZ Alkmaar|AZ]] in UEFA Cup. While awaiting the Final, on 14 May, Sporting lost its penultimate match in [[Primeira Liga]] against [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] and dropped to third place. By the end of the season, the team eventually finished 2004–05 Primeira Liga in that place. Lastly, playing the [[2005 UEFA Cup Final]] at their [[José Alvalade Stadium|home ground]], on 18 May, Sporting lost 1–3 against Russian side [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]], after being 1–0 up at halftime.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sporting CP-CSKA Moskva: UEFA Europa League 2004/05 Final |url=https://pt.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/80814--sporting-cp-vs-cska-moskva/ |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=[[UEFA]] |language=pt |archive-date=2 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102005701/https://pt.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/80814--sporting-cp-vs-cska-moskva/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Domestically, Sporting had back-to-back wins in the [[Taça de Portugal|Portuguese Cup]] in [[2006–07 Taça de Portugal|2007]] and [[2007–08 Taça de Portugal|2008]] (led by coach [[Paulo Bento]]). Sporting also reached, for the first time, the knockout phase of [[UEFA Champions League]], in the [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|2008–09 season]], but were roundly defeated by [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]], with an aggregate loss of 12–1. This is widely regarded as one of the lowest points in the history of the club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sporting sofre humilhação histórica |url=http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Desporto/Interior.aspx?content_id=1166263 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222124007/http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Desporto/Interior.aspx?content_id=1166263 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |access-date=18 December 2015 |website=jn.pt |publisher=Rui Miguel Melo}}</ref> The club almost reached another European final in 2012, but were dropped out of the competition by [[Athletic Bilbao]], in the semi-finals of the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League|2011–12 Europa League]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/le-at-bilbao-sporting-3-1-cronica|title = LE: At. Bilbao-Sporting, 3–1 (crónica)|date = 26 April 2012|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = maisfutebol.iol.pt|archive-date = 24 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151224194807/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/le-at-bilbao-sporting-3-1-cronica|url-status = live}}</ref>

==== Financial mismanagement and 2013 election ====
After years of [[financial mismanagement]], Sporting had amassed debts exceeding €276&nbsp;million by 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.ionline.pt/399398|title = Sporting. Soares Franco pode ser o senhor que se segue na lista das expulsões|date = 27 July 2015|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = ionline.pt|last = Tavares|first = Isabel|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223092130/http://www.ionline.pt/399398|archive-date = 23 December 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> The results on the pitch were also negative, with Sporting finishing seventh in the [[2012–13 Primeira Liga]], their lowest ever finish.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira_liga/artigo/2013/05/20/o-pior-sporting-de-sempre|title = O pior Sporting de sempre|date = 20 May 2013|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = desporto.sapo.pt|publisher = Eduardo Santiago|archive-date = 23 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223170754/http://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira_liga/artigo/2013/05/20/o-pior-sporting-de-sempre|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/pacos-afunda-ainda-mais-o-sporting-com-triunfo-em-alvalade-1579621|title = Paços de Ferreira deixa Sporting a um ponto da zona de despromoção|date = 5 January 2013|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = publico.pt|publisher = Paulo Curado|archive-date = 13 April 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160413165808/https://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/pacos-afunda-ainda-mais-o-sporting-com-triunfo-em-alvalade-1579621|url-status = live}}</ref> Managerial changes occurred within months or weeks apart: from November 2009 to May 2013, nine managers were contracted, with none of them lasting an entire season. In 2013, after pressure from club members, president Godinho Lopes resigned,<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira_liga/artigo/2013/02/03/godinho-lopes-demite-se-na-terca-feira|title = Godinho Lopes demite-se na terça-feira (Godinho Lopes resigns on Tuesday)|date = 3 February 2013|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = desporto.sapo.pt|archive-date = 23 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223170552/http://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira_liga/artigo/2013/02/03/godinho-lopes-demite-se-na-terca-feira|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.vavel.com/pt/futebol-portugues/313826-guerra-e-paz.html|title = Sporting 2013: Guerra e Paz|date = 26 December 2013|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = vavel.com|publisher = Bruno Gomes|archive-date = 23 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223140706/http://www.vavel.com/pt/futebol-portugues/313826-guerra-e-paz.html|url-status = live}}</ref> and shortly afterwards, [[Bruno de Carvalho]] was elected president in a snap election.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/bruno-de-carvalho-e-o-novo-presidente-do-sporting-1588913|title = Bruno de Carvalho é o novo presidente do Sporting (Bruno de Carvalho is the new president of Sporting)|date = 20 March 2013|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = publico.pt|publisher = Jorge Miguel Matias e Tiago Pimentel|archive-date = 8 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160308004753/http://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/bruno-de-carvalho-e-o-novo-presidente-do-sporting-1588913|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/bruno-carvalho-confirmado-presidente-do-sporting=f796482|title = Bruno Carvalho confirmado presidente do Sporting|date = 26 March 2013|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = expresso.sapo.pt|publisher = Bruno Roseiro|archive-date = 23 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223171446/http://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/bruno-carvalho-confirmado-presidente-do-sporting=f796482|url-status = live}}</ref> Carvalho intended to return success to the football team, while threatening to take Godinho Lopes to court,<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 March 2015 |title=Vamos devolver a paz ao Sporting |url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira_liga/artigo/2013/03/26/vamos-devolver-a-paz-ao-sporting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223170234/http://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira_liga/artigo/2013/03/26/vamos-devolver-a-paz-ao-sporting |archive-date=23 December 2015 |access-date=23 December 2015 |website=desporto.sapo.pt |publisher=João Paulo Godinho}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 February 2013 |title=Bruno de Carvalho ameaça Godinho Lopes com tribunal |url=http://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/bruno-de-carvalho-ameaca-godinho-lopes-com-tribunal-1585218 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413085233/https://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/bruno-de-carvalho-ameaca-godinho-lopes-com-tribunal-1585218 |archive-date=13 April 2016 |access-date=23 December 2015 |website=publico.pt |publisher=Nuno Ferreira Santos}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 March 2013 |title=Interview: "O Sporting merecia outros candidatos e eu merecia outros adversários" |url=https://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/o-sporting-merecia-outros-candidatos--e-eu-merecia-outros-adversarios-1588689 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308012156/http://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/o-sporting-merecia-outros-candidatos--e-eu-merecia-outros-adversarios-1588689 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |access-date=23 December 2015 |website=publico.pt |publisher=Paulo Curado}}</ref> and to renegotiate the club's debt payment schedule with the banks involved,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bruno Carvalho explica "15 dias de trabalho faraónico" |url=https://expresso.pt/arquivo/desporto/bruno-carvalho-explica-15-dias-de-trabalho-faraonico=f799399 |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Jornal Expresso |language=pt-PT}}</ref> which eventually renegotiated the debt in very favourable conditions for Sporting CP in the following years as part of the club's financial restructuring started by Carvalho and finalized by [[Frederico Varandas]] ten years later.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-30 |title=Bruno de Carvalho anuncia redução da dívida e explica empréstimo obrigacionista |url=https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/sporting/2018/04/30/bruno-de-carvalho-anuncia-reducao-da-divida-e-explica-emprestimo-obrigacionista/111930/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Rádio Renascença |language=pt-pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sporting admite a entrada de um parceiro estratégico |url=https://www.ojogo.pt/2262737977/sporting-admite-a-entrada-de-um-parceiro-estrategico/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=O Jogo |date=27 December 2023 |language=pt}}</ref> This allowed Sporting CP to get a multimillion-euro [[debt relief]] – in contrast to their rivals.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Sporting corta 100 milhões de euros ao passivo |url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/sporting-corta-100-milhoes-de-euros-ao-passivo |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=SAPO Desporto |language=pt}}</ref><ref>[https://eco.pt/opiniao/sporting-so-eu-sei-porque-nao-pago-ao-banco/ Sporting: Só eu sei porque não pago ao banco] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630011231/https://eco.pt/opiniao/sporting-so-eu-sei-porque-nao-pago-ao-banco/ |date=30 June 2018 }} ECO {{in lang|pt}}</ref> Carvalho's election brought Angolan investors to the club, most notably [[Álvaro Sobrinho]], through Holdimo, which ultimately took possession of 20 million shares of Sporting's [[Sociedade Anónima Desportiva|SAD]] through conversion of [[convertible debt]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Cavaleiro|first=Diogo|date=21 June 2013|title=Investidores angolanos são os novos accionistas do Sporting|trans-title=Angolan investors are the new shareholders in Sporting's SAD|url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/desporto/detalhe/investidores_angolanos_sao_os_novos_accionistas_do_sporting|language=pt|newspaper=Jornal de Negócios|access-date=30 April 2018|archive-date=1 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004438/https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/desporto/detalhe/investidores_angolanos_sao_os_novos_accionistas_do_sporting|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Cavaleiro|first=Diogo|date=17 December 2016|title="Burocracias" da CMVM obrigam Sporting a divulgar posição de Sobrinho|trans-title=CMVM "bureaucracies" force Sporting to disclose Sobrinho's position|url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/banca---financas/detalhe/cmvm-pediu-esclarecimentos-sobre-posicao-de-sobrinho-no-sporting|language=pt|newspaper=Jornal de Negócios|access-date=30 April 2018|archive-date=1 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004433/https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/banca---financas/detalhe/cmvm-pediu-esclarecimentos-sobre-posicao-de-sobrinho-no-sporting|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 5 June 2015, it was released an audit that analyzed the management of Sporting in the past 20 years: it concluded that in 1994 the club had €55 million worth of real estate assets and an almost nonexistent debt; by 2013, real estate assets were almost nonexistent, and the club had amassed a €331 million debt.<ref name="Expresso 2015-06-27">{{cite web |url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/2015-06-27--Auditoria-a-gestao-do-Sporting-implica-ex-gestores#gs.nTaGMWM |title=Auditoria à gestão do Sporting implica ex-gestores |last=Santos Guerreiro |first=Pedro |date=27 June 2015 |newspaper=Expresso |access-date=5 June 2018 |language=pt |trans-title=Audit to Sporting's management implicates former administrators |archive-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823174538/https://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/2015-06-27--Auditoria-a-gestao-do-Sporting-implica-ex-gestores#gs.nTaGMWM |url-status=live }}</ref> Their new stadium (completed in 2003) cost 74% more than what was expected when its construction started (€184&nbsp;million against the planned €106&nbsp;million), while their training facility cost 24% more, and the costs of ''Alvalade XXI'' neighbourhood, a real estate complex located around the stadium, overshot its estimate by 60%; such complex was almost entirely sold in the following years, many estates of which were sold below market prices.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://observador.pt/2015/06/27/derrapagens-nos-custos-contratos-sem-papel-comissoes-pagas-os-socios-do-sporting-vao-saber/ |title=Derrapagens nos custos, contratos sem papel e comissões pagas: o que os sócios do Sporting vão saber |last1=Pombo |first1=Diogo |last2=Dinis |first2=David |date=27 June 2015 |newspaper=Observador |access-date=5 June 2018 |language=pt |trans-title=Overshootings, unwritten contracts and paid commissions: what Sporting's associates will know |archive-date=27 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727055349/https://observador.pt/2015/06/27/derrapagens-nos-custos-contratos-sem-papel-comissoes-pagas-os-socios-do-sporting-vao-saber/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 1995 to 2013, the club invested €261 million in the football team, however, with few sports and financial results.<ref name="Expresso 2015-06-27" /> The audit criticized many football transfers in the 2000s, in which the club paid commissions well above market prices to player agents, and discovered that Sporting even had paid commissions without evidence of written contracts.<ref name="Expresso 2015-06-27" /><ref name="Expresso 2015-06-27 2">{{cite web |url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/2015-06-27-Auditoria-denuncia-negocios-questionaveis-do-Sporting-com-agentes-e-fundos#gs.TSQdmJA |title=Auditoria denuncia negócios "questionáveis" do Sporting com agentes e fundos |last=Cabral |first=Mariana |date=27 June 2015 |newspaper=Expresso |access-date=5 June 2018 |language=pt |trans-title=Audit denounces "questionable" Sporting businesses with agents and funds |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142048/http://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/2015-06-27-Auditoria-denuncia-negocios-questionaveis-do-Sporting-com-agentes-e-fundos#gs.TSQdmJA |url-status=live }}</ref> The audit also concluded that the administrations from 1995 to 2013 intended to convert Sporting, a multi-sports club, exclusively into a football club – although they did not openly admitted so – which was being done gradually through the closure of other sport modalities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/sporting/interior/auditoria-a-gestao-do-sporting-conclui-que-quiseram-acabar-com-o-ecletismo-4801218.html |title=Auditoria à gestão do Sporting conclui que quiseram acabar com o ecletismo |date=27 September 2015 |newspaper=Diário de Notícias |access-date=5 June 2018 |language=pt |trans-title=Audit to the management of Sporting concludes they intended to end with the club's eclecticism |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141746/https://www.dn.pt/desporto/sporting/interior/auditoria-a-gestao-do-sporting-conclui-que-quiseram-acabar-com-o-ecletismo-4801218.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Moreover, the audit also pointed out evidence of mismanagement and conflicts of interest by several administrators.<ref name="Expresso 2015-06-27" /> Considering the audit's results, club members approved the expulsion of Godinho Lopes as an associate of the club in June 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.publico.pt/2015/06/28/desporto/noticia/expulsao-para-godinho-lopes-suspensao-para-luis-duque-1700426 |title=Godinho Lopes expulso do Sporting por infracções "muito graves" |last=Vaza |first=Marco |date=28 June 2015 |newspaper=Público |access-date=5 June 2018 |language=pt |trans-title=Godinho Lopes expelled from Sporting for "very severe" wrongdoings |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002003501/https://www.publico.pt/2015/06/28/desporto/noticia/expulsao-para-godinho-lopes-suspensao-para-luis-duque-1700426 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2013–2020====
Led by coach [[Leonardo Jardim]] in the [[2013–14 Sporting Clube de Portugal season|2013–14 season]], Sporting finished second in the [[2013–14 Primeira Liga|league]], thus gaining direct access to the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League]], their first Champions League presence in five years.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Desporto/Interior.aspx?content_id=3820793|title = Sporting vence Belenenses e garante segundo lugar e acesso direto à "Champions"|date = 19 April 2014|access-date = 19 April 2014|website = jn.pt|publisher = 23 December 2015|archive-date = 23 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223155053/http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Desporto/Interior.aspx?content_id=3820793|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tsf.pt/desporto/sporting/interior/sporting-vence-no-restelo-e-assegura-entrada-direta-na-champions-video-3820794.html|title=Sporting vence no Restelo e assegura entrada direta na "Champions"|date=19 April 2014|access-date=23 December 2015|website=TSF|archive-date=23 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223190046/http://www.tsf.pt/desporto/sporting/interior/sporting-vence-no-restelo-e-assegura-entrada-direta-na-champions-video-3820794.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Estadio José Alvalade - Sporting Clube de Portugal (15848471826).jpg|thumb|right|Sporting playing a home match against German club [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]] for the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage]]|347x347px]]

In the [[2014–15 Sporting Clube de Portugal season|2014–15 season]], Sporting won their 16th [[2014–15 Taça de Portugal|Portuguese Cup]] in dramatic fashion. The Lisbon side, led by [[Marco Silva]], played the final against [[S.C. Braga|Braga]], and after a disastrous start, found themselves losing 0–2 at half-time and playing with ten men after the sending-off of [[Cédric Soares]]. With the final seemingly lost, [[Islam Slimani]] gave some hope to the fans as he scored the 1–2 on the 83-minute. In stoppage time, [[Fredy Montero]] managed to equalize, forcing extra-time. Sporting ultimately won the match 3–1 on penalties.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.portugoal.net/club-news/212-sporting-win-a-dramatic-taca-de-portugal-final-on-penalties|title = Sporting win dramatic Taça de Portugal final on penalties|date = 31 May 2015|access-date = 26 December 2015|website = portugoal.net|archive-date = 20 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150620001420/http://www.portugoal.net/club-news/212-sporting-win-a-dramatic-taca-de-portugal-final-on-penalties|url-status = live}}</ref> Celebrations ended in a pacific pitch invasion of Estádio José Alvalade by the fans, as the club touched silverware for the first time in seven years.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://pt.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2252987.html|title = Sporting vence Taça de Portugal|date = 2015-05-31|access-date = 2015-11-24|website = [[UEFA]]|publisher = UEFA|archive-date = 23 July 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180723093207/https://pt.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2252987.html|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/sporting/noticias/interior/festa-de-alvalade-termina-com-invasao-de-campo-4599604.html|title = Festa de Alvalade termina com invasão de campo|date = 2015-05-31|access-date = 2015-11-24|website = ojogo.pt|publisher = Jornal "O Jogo"|archive-date = 23 July 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180723040148/https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/sporting/noticias/interior/festa-de-alvalade-termina-com-invasao-de-campo-4599604.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

In June 2015, [[Jorge Jesus]] joined Sporting after Benfica opted not to renew his contract as coach of the club, signing a three-year contract. Presented as the new manager of the club on 1 July, the managerial change took the rivalry of both Lisbon clubs to new heights.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/2015-07-01-Os-sete-espinhos-de-Jesus|title = Os sete espinhos de Jesus|date = 1 July 2015|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = expresso.sapo.pt|publisher = Nicolau Santos|archive-date = 23 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223170703/http://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/2015-07-01-Os-sete-espinhos-de-Jesus|url-status = live}}</ref> Under Jesus' tenure, Sporting won the [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|Portuguese Super Cup]] for the eighth time, against [[2014–15 Primeira Liga|back-to-back champions]] Benfica.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Desporto/Interior.aspx?content_id=4722474|title = Sporting vence Benfica (1–0) e conquista oitava Supertaça|date = 9 August 2015|access-date = 23 December 2015|website = jn.pt|last = Silva|first = Susana|archive-date = 23 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223154746/http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Desporto/Interior.aspx?content_id=4722474|url-status = live}}</ref> Despite a positive start, Sporting did not win any other trophy, finishing second in the [[2015–16 Primeira Liga|Primeira Liga]] with 86 points, two points behind Benfica, despite breaking their own points record in the league.

Following a [[2016–17 Sporting Clube de Portugal season|trophyless season]], Sporting won [[2017–18 Taça da Liga|their first Taça da Liga]] on a penalty shoot-out against [[Vitória de Setúbal]]. However, on 15 May 2018, days after finishing third in the [[2017–18 Primeira Liga|league]], several players and coaches were attacked by around 50 [[Ultras|ultra]] supporters of Sporting at the club's training ground (9 of them would be sentenced to at least a specified term of actual imprisonment<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-28 |title=Bruno de Carvalho e Mustafá absolvidos: Só 9 com prisão efetiva |url=https://www.dn.pt/pais/ataque-a-alcochete-nada-provado-contra-bruno-de-carvalho-12248328.html |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=DN |language=pt-PT |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031105735/https://www.dn.pt/pais/ataque-a-alcochete-nada-provado-contra-bruno-de-carvalho-12248328.html |url-status=live }}</ref> after trial).<ref>{{cite news|date=15 May 2018|title=Sporting players, staff attacked by hooded supporters at training ground|url=https://en.as.com/en/2018/05/15/football/1526413343_228152.html|agency=Reuters|newspaper=As|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516003233/https://en.as.com/en/2018/05/15/football/1526413343_228152.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kiley|first=Ben|date=15 May 2018|title=Sporting Lisbon players attacked at training ground after failing to secure Champions League spot|url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/sporting-lisbon-attack-160186|website=Sports Joe|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516103435/https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/sporting-lisbon-attack-160186|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=15 May 2018|title=Jesus e jogadores agredidos na Academia|trans-title=Jesus and players attacked at Academy|url=https://www.abola.pt/Nnh/Noticias/Ver/730529|language=pt|newspaper=A Bola|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=17 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517024802/https://www.abola.pt/Nnh/Noticias/Ver/730529|url-status=live}}</ref> Five days later, Sporting lost the [[2018 Taça de Portugal Final|Portuguese Cup final]] to [[C.D. Aves|Aves]]. About a month later, Bruno de Carvalho was dismissed by club members after a general assembly on 23 June.<ref name=AG>{{cite news|title=Todo o filme da Assembleia Geral que afastou Bruno de Carvalho da presidência|trans-title=The entire film of the General Assembly that took Bruno de Carvalho away from presidency|url=https://www.abola.pt/Nnh/Noticias/Ver/736853|language=pt|work=A Bola|access-date=24 June 2018|quote=Oficial: Bruno de Carvalho já não é presidente do Sporting, depois de o 'sim' à sua destituição ter recolhido 71 por cento das preferências dos sócios. 28 por cento dos sócios pretendiam a continuidade do ex-presidente do clube de Alvalade.|archive-date=10 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710033119/https://www.abola.pt/nnh/Noticias/Ver/736853|url-status=live}}</ref> This followed the [[rescission (contract law)|rescission]]s of nine players: [[Bruno Fernandes]], [[Daniel Podence]], [[Rui Patricio]], [[Rodrigo Battaglia]], [[Rafael Leão]], [[Rúben Ribeiro (footballer, born 1987)|Rúben Ribeiro]],  [[Bas Dost]], [[Gelson Martins]] and [[William Carvalho]].<ref>{{cite news|date=14 June 2018|title=Bruno de Carvalho confirma nove rescisões|trans-title=Bruno de Carvalho confirms nine rescissions|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/bruno-de-carvalho-confirma-nove-rescisoes|language=pt|website=SAPO Desporto|access-date=15 June 2018|archive-date=15 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615214823/https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/bruno-de-carvalho-confirma-nove-rescisoes|url-status=live}}</ref> Sporting would be later eligible for court-awarded compensation when the rescissions were declared illegal for those players who did not return to the club or were not sold by Sporting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roseiro |first=Bruno |title=CAP dá razão a Rui Patrício e Podence nas rescisões, caso vai agora seguir na justiça |url=https://observador.pt/2018/07/20/cap-da-razao-a-rui-patricio-e-podence-nas-rescisoes-unilaterais-por-justa-causa/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015191232/https://observador.pt/2018/07/20/cap-da-razao-a-rui-patricio-e-podence-nas-rescisoes-unilaterais-por-justa-causa/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roseiro |first=Bruno |title=Tribunal Arbitral de Desporto decide a favor do Sporting: Rafael Leão tem de pagar 16,5 milhões pela rescisão |url=https://observador.pt/2020/03/18/tribunal-arbitral-de-desporto-decide-a-favor-do-sporting-rafael-leao-tem-de-pagar-165-milhoes-pela-rescisao/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015191232/https://observador.pt/2020/03/18/tribunal-arbitral-de-desporto-decide-a-favor-do-sporting-rafael-leao-tem-de-pagar-165-milhoes-pela-rescisao/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:RubenAmorim21.jpg|thumb|[[Ruben Amorim]] during a training session in 2021, the year he led Sporting CP to its first [[2020–21 Primeira Liga|Primeira Liga title]] under his leadership as manager of the team<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-11 |title=Sporting campeão. O milagreiro Amorim, a visão de Varandas e a aposta certeira nos jovens |url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/sporting-campeao-o-milagreiro-amorim-a-visao-de-varandas-e-a-aposta-certeira-nos-jovens-13709133.html |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=DN |language=pt-PT |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105124244/https://www.dn.pt/desporto/sporting-campeao-o-milagreiro-amorim-a-visao-de-varandas-e-a-aposta-certeira-nos-jovens-13709133.html |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
In the period before scheduled elections, a management committee, headed by former President [[Sousa Cintra]] as [[acting president]] of the sports club,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sousa Cintra no adeus: "Servirei o Sporting até à morte" |url=https://www.sabado.pt/desporto/detalhe/sousa-cintra-no-adeus-servirei-o-sporting-ate-a-morte |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Sabado |language=pt-pt |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031105735/https://www.sabado.pt/desporto/detalhe/sousa-cintra-no-adeus-servirei-o-sporting-ate-a-morte |url-status=live }}</ref> succeeded in returning some of the players who had left the club following the incident, namely Bruno Fernandes, Bas Dost and Rodrigo Battaglia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-03 |title=Sousa Cintra: Acredito que Bruno Fernandes e Podence regressem |url=https://www.dn.pt/desportos/sousa-cintra-acredito-que-bruno-fernandes-e-podence-regressem-9545971.html |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=DN |language=pt-PT |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031105734/https://www.dn.pt/desportos/sousa-cintra-acredito-que-bruno-fernandes-e-podence-regressem-9545971.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-10 |title=Sousa Cintra: Bruno Fernandes não quis que o ordenado fosse aumentado |url=https://www.dn.pt/desportos/sousa-cintra-bruno-fernandes-nao-quis-que-o-ordenado-fosse-aumentado-9572290.html |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=DN |language=pt-PT |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031105736/https://www.dn.pt/desportos/sousa-cintra-bruno-fernandes-nao-quis-que-o-ordenado-fosse-aumentado-9572290.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Frederico Varandas]] was elected president on 8 September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roseiro |first=Bruno |date=2018-09-09 |title=Frederico Varandas, com 42,32% dos votos, é o novo presidente do Sporting - como aconteceu |url=https://observador.pt/liveblogs/eleicoes-do-sporting-leoes-escolhem-a-partir-das-9h-o-sucessor-de-bruno-de-carvalho-na-presidencia/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031105734/https://observador.pt/liveblogs/eleicoes-do-sporting-leoes-escolhem-a-partir-das-9h-o-sucessor-de-bruno-de-carvalho-na-presidencia/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Having replaced [[Jorge Jesus]] at the beginning of the 2018–19 season, [[José Peseiro]] was sacked after a poor performance on the Primeira Liga.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roseiro |first=Bruno |title=José Peseiro despedido, Sporting procura novo treinador (que deve ser português) |url=https://observador.pt/2018/11/01/jose-peseiro-despedido-sporting-procura-novo-treinador-que-deve-ser-portugues/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031105734/https://observador.pt/2018/11/01/jose-peseiro-despedido-sporting-procura-novo-treinador-que-deve-ser-portugues/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2019, Sporting CP announced a loan negotiated with [[Apollo Global Management]], based on the [[securitization]] of [[NOS (Portuguese company)|NOS]]' television rights revenues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-18 |title=Sporting fecha empréstimo de 75 milhões com Apollo |url=https://eco.sapo.pt/2019/03/18/sporting-fecha-emprestimo-de-75-milhoes-com-apollo/ |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=ECO |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

In March 2020, [[Ruben Amorim]] was appointed manager of Sporting CP for a managerial transfer worth €10 million (£8.65 million), becoming the [[Transfer (association football)#Managers|third-most expensive manager ever]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rúben Amorim no pódio das contratações mais caras do mundo entre treinadores: conheça a lista |url=https://www.record.pt/multimedia/fotogalerias/detalhe/ruben-amorim-entra-no-podio-dos-treinadores-mais-caros-do-mundo-conheca-a-lista |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Record |language=pt-PT |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015191232/https://www.record.pt/multimedia/fotogalerias/detalhe/ruben-amorim-entra-no-podio-dos-treinadores-mais-caros-do-mundo-conheca-a-lista |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2020–present: The Amorim Era and newfound domestic success ===
In the 2020–21 season, with no spectators allowed in Portugal due to [[COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal|COVID-19 restrictions]], and after being [[2020–21 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round (Main Path)|eliminated from European competition]] by [[LASK|LASK Linz]], Sporting won their third [[2020–21 Taça da Liga|league cup]] and ended their 19-year period without winning the Portuguese league, with only one loss (against Benfica in the penultimate round and already as champions), securing their [[2020–21 Primeira Liga|19th Primeira Liga title]] after a 1–0 home win against [[Boavista F.C.|Boavista]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/sporting-ends-19-year-title-drought-in-portuguese-league/2021/05/11/649cc80e-b2a6-11eb-bc96-fdf55de43bef_story.html |title=Sporting ends 19-year title drought in Portuguese league |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=12 May 2021 |access-date=12 May 2021 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512081948/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/sporting-ends-19-year-title-drought-in-portuguese-league/2021/05/11/649cc80e-b2a6-11eb-bc96-fdf55de43bef_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the [[2021–22 UEFA Champions league|2021–22 UEFA Champions League]] group stage, Sporting made a comeback by finishing second on Group C after a 5–1 home loss to Ajax and 1–0 away loss to Borussia Dortmund, thereby reaching the knockout phase for only the second time since the [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|2008–09]] season. Domestically, both the [[2021 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/noticias/sporting-vence-braga-e-conquista-supertaca-13995812.html |title=Sporting beats Braga and wins Supertaça |website=OJogo |date=31 July 2021 |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202164614/https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/noticias/sporting-vence-braga-e-conquista-supertaca-13995812.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  and the [[2021–22 Taça da Liga]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://observador.pt/liveblogs/benfica-sporting-a-final-da-taca-da-liga/ |title=Sporting beats Benfica with comeback and wins Taça da Liga for the second year in a row |website=Observador |date=29 January 2022 |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202164612/https://observador.pt/liveblogs/benfica-sporting-a-final-da-taca-da-liga/ |url-status=live }}</ref> were won by the Lions, securing the trophies against Braga and Benfica, respectively. In the [[2021–22 Primeira Liga]], Sporting finished second with the same 85 points as in the previous league campaign. In the 2023–24 league season, Sporting record signing [[Viktor Gyökeres]] helped propel the club to their [[2023-24 Primeira Liga|20th Primeira liga]] title, won on the fifth of May after [[Benfica]]'s 2–0 loss to [[F.C. Famalicão|Famalicão]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liga Portugal |url=https://www.ligaportugal.pt/pt/liga/classificacao/20212022/ligaportugalbwin |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Liga Portugal}}</ref>

In the [[2024–25 Primeira Liga|2024-25 season]], after an initial winning streak lasting for 11 rounds, to give Sporting a 5-point lead, coach [[Ruben Amorim]] announced his departure to sign with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. Not before leading Sporting to a 4-1 home win against Pep Guardiola's [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] for the [[2024–25 UEFA Champions League league phase|2024-25 UEFA Champions League League Phase]] on the 4th round - Sporting would go on to lose with [[Borussia Dortmund]] on the [[2024–25 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|knockout phase play-offs]]. His last [[Primeira Liga]] game saw Sporting make a comeback to win 2-4 at [[S.C. Braga|SC Braga]] for the 11th round. After a failed 8-match tenure for [[João Pereira (footballer, born 1984)|João Pereira]], former Portugal capped and Sporting right-back, between November and late December, [[Rui Borges (footballer, born 1981)|Rui Borges]] took over, starting off with a 1-0 home win against [[S.L. Benfica|SL Benfica]] and led the club to win the Primeira Liga for Sporting's [[2024–25 Primeira Liga|21st Primeira Liga title]] - and first back-to-back win in over 71 years, since the [[1953–54 Primeira Divisão|1953/54]] season. This marked Sporting's third League title win in the last 5 seasons of Portuguese football, marking a new era of increasing domestic dominance and hegemony. Swedish stiker [[Viktor Gyökeres]] again topped the goalscoring chart, with 39 goals in 33 League games (having scored an impressive 53 times in 51 season overall matches), making him a top contender for the [[European Golden Shoe|2024-25 European Golden Shoe]].   

[[File:José_Alvalade_facade_at_Estádio_José_Alvalade_in_Lisbon.png|thumb|274x274px|New [[José Alvalade]]'s image at the [[Estádio José Alvalade]] in Lisbon, Portugal, during the execution of a work of building renovation in 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rosto de José Alvalade ganha forma no estádio do Sporting |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/sporting/detalhe/rosto-de-jose-alvalade-ganha-forma-no-estadio-do-sporting |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Record |language=pt-PT |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015191234/https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/sporting/detalhe/rosto-de-jose-alvalade-ganha-forma-no-estadio-do-sporting |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

For the 2022–2026 quadrennium, [[Frederico Varandas]]' administration started works of building renovation and modernization of the club's facilities.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Obras em Alvalade e na Academia: SAD do Sporting fechou exercício com investimento em curso de 1,4 M€ |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/sporting/detalhe/obras-em-alvalade-e-na-academia-sad-do-sporting-fechou-exercicio-com-investimento-em-curso-de-14-m |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Record |language=pt-PT |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015191232/https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/sporting/detalhe/obras-em-alvalade-e-na-academia-sad-do-sporting-fechou-exercicio-com-investimento-em-curso-de-14-m |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alvalade renovado: Varandas prepara fecho do fosso |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/sporting/detalhe/alvalade-renovado-varandas-prepara-fecho-do-fosso |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Record |language=pt-PT}}</ref> In December 2023, Sporting and its [[Sociedade Anónima Desportiva|SAD]] had gone ahead with a financial restructuring started in 2019 on the grounds of earlier agreements with [[creditor]]s jump-started by [[Bruno de Carvalho]]<ref name=":8" /> which included the renegotiation of bank debt, "extinguishing the debt originally belonging to [[Novo Banco]] (with outstanding capital of 35,403,508.62 euros), with the exception of finance leases", the company announced in a statement sent to the [[Portuguese Securities Market Commission]] (CMVM). A debt belonging to [[Banco Comercial Português|Millennium BCP]] was also settled.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acordo do Sporting com Novo Banco aumenta preço dos VMOC... do Millenium bcp |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/sporting/detalhe/acordo-do-sporting-com-novo-banco-aumenta-preco-dos-vmoc-do-millenium-bcp |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Record |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-06 |title=Sporting extingue dívida ao BCP e fica exposto a Sagasta e Novo Banco |url=https://eco.sapo.pt/2022/09/06/sporting-extingue-divida-ao-bcp-e-fica-exposto-a-sagasta-e-novo-banco/ |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=ECO |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sporting extingue dívida ao BCP |url=https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/sporting/sad-sporting/sporting-extingue-divida-ao-bpc |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=CNN Portugal |language=pt}}</ref> In addition, Sporting announced it would own 88 per cent of Sporting SAD from 15 February 2024 onwards,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sporting passa a ser dono de 88% da SAD a 15 de fevereiro |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/sporting/detalhe/sporting-passa-a-ser-dono-de-88-da-sad-a-15-de-fevereiro |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Record |language=pt-PT}}</ref> instead of the 83.90% it owned at the time.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-27 |title=Sporting recompra dívida ao Novobanco. Clube passa a controlar 88% da SAD |url=https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/12/27/sporting-recompra-divida-ao-novobanco-clube-passa-a-controlar-88-da-sad/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=ECO |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Vice-presidente do Sporting destaca "marco muito importante" com a compra dos 88% da SAD |url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/artigos/vice-presidente-do-sporting-destaca-marco-muito-importante-com-a-compra-dos-88-da-sad |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=SAPO Desporto |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roseiro |first=Bruno |title=Sporting compra VMOC em falta ao Novo Banco, passa a ter 88% da SAD, reestrutura dívida bancária e admite entrada de acionistas minoritários |url=https://observador.pt/2023/12/27/sporting-compra-vmoc-em-falta-ao-novo-banco-passa-a-ter-88-da-sad-e-reestrutura-divida-bancaria/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}}</ref> With the completion of the restructuring, the club said it intended to start a new strategic [[financial plan]]ning and secure the entry of a minority [[investor]] in its Futebol, SAD.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sporting compra últimas VMOC e quer um investidor na SAD |url=https://www.jn.pt/4016139100/sporting-compra-ultimas-vmoc-e-quer-um-investidor-na-sad/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Jornal de Notícias |date=27 December 2023 |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sporting pondera venda de participação minoritária |website=Jornal de Negocios |url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/desporto/detalhe/sporting-pondera-venda-de-participacao-minoritaria |access-date=2024-01-15 |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sporting garante 88% da SAD e procura investidores |url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/desporto/futebol/detalhe/sporting-garante-88-da-sad-e-procura-investidores |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=CM Jornal |date=29 December 2023 |language=pt-PT}}</ref>