The promotion of Club Sport Marítimo 2025/26: individual report card | OneFootball

Marítimo are back in the top flight after winning Liga Portugal 2 in convincing fashion (Photo: www.csmaritimo.org.pt)

As mentioned in the article entitled The resurgence of Club Sport Marítimo (written at an important interjection in the Liga Portugal 2 campaign), the Madeira club came into this 2025/2026 season with an overhauled squad and a certain degree of trepidation among the fanbase, venturing into the unknown by handing Vítor Matos and then Miguel Moita their first senior head-coaching roles.

(It is worth noting that this sentiment may repeat itself as Miguel Moita has officially parted ways with Marítimo, despite the resounding success that was achieved at the latter stages of this campaign under his guidance).

The phrase that defined Club Sport Marítimo’s season is “É p’ra primeira!” – “To the first division”. However, and quite ironically, the figure of their season is not an outfield player, nor does he boast any experience in the top flight.

Goalkeeper outshines outfielders

26-year-old Samú Silva has been voted Liga 2 Goalkeeper of the Month on seven separate occasions this season. The Portuguese shot-stopper has truly been a level above when defending the Marítimo goal, boasting top-level reflexes, secure handling and coverage in 1v1 situations.

Ahead of Samú, Marítimo possess two imposing defensive stalwarts in captain Romain Correia and Danish academy product Noah Madsen. Born in France and a former representative of Porto B, Correia excels as a traditional central defender in aerial duels, whereas Madsen has garnered interest from the likes of Sporting, Wolfsburg and Midtjylland.

Madsen has been particularly dominant, also impressing in recovery phases and with vital last-ditch interventions.

Apart from Paulo Henrique, the authoritative Azorean full-back, Marítimo rotated heavily in the defensive and midfield sectors as both Xavi Grande and Igor Julião (two vertical, offensively aggressive right-sided defenders), Ibrahima Guirassy and Vladan Danilović (two secure ball-winning midfielders) and Marco Cruz and Raphael Guzzo (two relatively complete, box-crashing midfielders) contributed in distinct moments of the season with substantial minutes.

Four standouts bring the goals

Offensively, four players were the main protagonists.

Two Spaniards contributed to eighteen goals between them: the tricky Simo Bouzaidi and target man Adrián Butzke.

Moroccan-born Bouzaidi was composed from the penalty spot (guaranteeing promotion with a panenka) and a constant threat down the right flank, with his trickery and audacious dribbles. He was the club’s third to goal-scorer and joint-first for assists.

Joining from Vitória SC in early September, Butzke was not always clinical, but compensated when playing with his back to goal. Top goalscorer Carlos Daniel, either as an advanced midfielder or as a false No9 picked up the slack in those moments, with a particularly productive start to the campaign.

Star in the making

The best has been left for last as Martin Tejón, the Liga Portugal 2 Young Player of the Season, was considered by many to be the best player in the entire division. Tejón deserves to be recognised amongst the elite in Portugal for pure technical ability, as his ball-control and ability to manipulate defences is second-to-few.

The 21-year-old is one to watch. What he lacks in physical presence, he compensates for with silky playmaking. Marítimo were often an authoritative team, controlling matches and suffocating the opposition, so Tejón’s ability to break deadlocks with moments of magic was fundamental to turn one point into three.

Marítimistas will be hoping that they can continue to sing his song next season.

Local kids make their mark

There was plenty of Madeiran talent on display, raring to make an impact. Francisco ‘Xiko’ Gomes (son of Portuguese international Danny) scored what would be the title-winner against Leixões, Rodrigo Andrade saw out matches in defence and midfield, and 17-year-old midfielder Nélio Batista made his senior debut in Marítimo’s last outing of the campaign – remember the name.

Finally, a word to the Marítimo supporters. The Atlantic Ocean did not prevent thousands of them from following their side on the mainland as they fought their way back to the pinnacle of the Portuguese football pyramid.