Formation In 1951, residents from the port town of Vasco da Gama, Goa, including the
Portuguese garrison stationed there, formed the club called
Clube de Desportos Vasco da Gama. Tenente Avila became first president of the club. On 1 September of that year, the club earned certification; they became affiliated to the
Associação de Futebol de Goa (GFA) in 1959.
Early years During the last five decades the club participated in most of the major tournaments in India. The sixties and seventies were the most productive years for the club as they won some of the major tournaments during that time (Kerala Trophy, Stafford Cup, Chakola Gold Trophy and Sait-Nagjee Trophy). In 1968, it won the first edition of
Goa Police Cup, and in 1969, it became the first Goan side to win
Sait Nagjee Football Tournament defeating
Border Security Force FC. It failed to win in other tournaments including
Rovers Cup,
Bordoloi Trophy and Nehru Memorial Tournament, having lost out in the several finals. In 1970, Vasco again became the first Goan side to win prestigious
Bandodkar Gold Trophy, defeating
Dempo 1–0. During the late-60s and early-70s, Vasco was noted for having famous "A–B–C–D of Indian football", players Andrew D'Souza, Bernard Pereira, Catao Fernandes, and Dominic Pereira. As far as honors at home go, the club won the Goa Professional League title on six occasions starting in 1954 until 1969 and is the oldest registered club still participating in the state's top league competition. Vasco also became first Goan club to have won a tournament in
Bombay, the WIFA Championship in 1966. From 1973 to 1975, Vasco was managed by legendary
Indian goalkeeper
Peter Thangaraj, and renowned goalkeeper
E.N. Sudhir played for the club. Noted Indian manager
T. K. Chathunni also appeared with Vasco in the 1970s. The club clinched
Stafford Challenge Cup title in 1973. Over the last five decades, the club has received a lot of financial help from many philanthropic individuals not only from Goa, but also
Goans residing abroad.
Present years Undaunted, from the mid-1990s, under the leadership of Nõel da Lima Leitão, the club appointed former
S.L. Benfica star
Zeca Miglietti as coach for its training programme. His hard work saw the Club reach the quarterfinal phase of the KBL Federation Cup and among the contenders for qualification to the Premier Division National League. British coach
Bob Bootland took charge of the club in mid-90s and worked until 1998. tackles Lester Fernandes of Vasco SC during a
2008–09 I-League match at Fatorda Stadium For several years, Vasco emerged as one of the strongest sides in Goan football and they are well known for signing some quality foreigners. Signing players form
Uzbekistan by them were one of the hot topics as they roped in some players including
Yorqin Nazarov, Anvar Jabborov, Ravshan Teshabaev,
Azamat Abduraimov, Sherzod Nazarov, Kashimov Awazbek. Vasco last competed in the top flight of domestic football during the
2009–10 season. In the
2010 I-League 2nd Division, Vasco entered into the
final round, achieving third place with 13 points from 7 matches. In 2012, Serbian manager Davor Beber was appointed head coach. For the first time in history, Vasco got relegated from
Goa Professional League in
2012–13 Goa Professional League season. In August 2018, they roped in former India international
Micky Fernandes as their new head coach. In the 2020–21 season,
Goa Football Association held the qualifying tournament through Goa Professional League. After no interest from winners and runners-up, Vasco requested to the state association for nomination for the
2021–22 I-League 2nd Division. ==Sponsorship==