How did one of Portugal’s biggest clubs fall off the map? The rise and fall of Boavista Futebol Clube | OneFootball

It was early August 2025, and Sporting CP were set to kick off the new Portuguese Primeira Liga season against Casa Pia AC. Like any good football supporter (and a fanatic of Portuguese football), I saw this as the perfect opportunity to scroll through the league pyramid and see how some of the nation’s biggest clubs were placed for the upcoming season. Boavista FC, for some reason, were nowhere to be found.

After a 10-year spell in Portugal’s top division, the Panthers were relegated to the second tier on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign. As I scanned through the second division teams, they were somehow absent from the list of 18 clubs. I proceeded to scroll through the "Liga 3" clubs, and still no sign of the Porto-based outfit. Surely, Boavista would be registered to compete in the fourth tier of Portuguese football. Unfortunately, that would not turn out to be the case.

This is the story of a football club that, over the last 25 years, has experienced euphoric highs, followed by heartbreaking and gut-wrenching lows. Bouncing between the divisions is nothing new. Some of Europe and South America’s biggest clubs have yo-yoed between the top tiers.

In 2023, Santos FC (the club that produced word class players like Pele and Neymar) was banished to Brazil’s second division for the first time in their history. Newcastle United, regarded as one of the richest clubs in the world, dropped down to the second tier of English football as recently as 2016. River Plate, arguably Argentina’s biggest club, were relegated in 2011 after a 110-year stint in the top division. Even former European champions like Juventus, Marseille, Manchester City and Manchester United have spent time in the lower divisions, but few have suffered the sharp and calamitous dive that Boavista encountered this year. Boavista’s plight is far more grave and has now reached epic proportions. It remains a cautionary tale for executives, coaches, players, and, perhaps most importantly, football supporters.

The Portuguese club is one of the oldest in the Iberian Peninsula and is considered by many football experts to be one of the most storied and well-respected in the country. Os Axadrezados ("the chequered"), as they are affectionately known for their black and white jerseys that resemble a chess board, have won 10 major trophies over the last 50 years. An impressive achievement considering the local competitions have historically been dominated by the “Tres Grandes” (Big Three) of Sporting, Benfica and FC Porto.

Unfortunately, it has been a rollercoaster quarter-century for their loyal supporters, who have experienced a series of devastating blows that few clubs in Europe would be capable of enduring.

Jaime Pacheco’s impact

It is difficult to discuss modern-day Boavista history without Jaime Pacheco’s name popping up. Hiring the young Portuguese manager turned out to be a calculated gamble that paid off for the Panthers. The arrival of Pacheco would turn out to be a turning point for an organisation that had maintained its place among Portugal’s top teams, but had failed to break into the top two since 1976.

Although Pacheco joined the Porto club in 1997, the former seleção central midfielder really left his mark on the side the following year. By the beginning of the 1998-1999 campaign, Pacheco had constructed a side that matched the defensive resilience and tactical discipline he had shown as a player.

After finishing sixth in his first year with the club, Pacheca guided them to a second-place finish in 1999 (eight points behind local rivals FC Porto), and earned a spot in the coveted UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. Pacheco’s men continued their fine form in the 1999-2000 season, achieving a fourth-place finish and qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

Primeira Liga glory, that magical night at the Bessa

On May 18, 2001, Boavista FC supporters lined the streets of Porto to celebrate a historic feat that only four other clubs in Portugal had ever achieved.

With seconds remaining in the match on that memorable night at the Bessa, the players danced around Pacheco in delight. The manager, however, remained focused until the final whistle, displaying the diligence, discipline, humility and unassuming nature that had got him to that point of his career.

Goals from Elpídio Silva and Whelliton were enough for Boavista to secure a historic 3-0 home victory over Clube Desportivo das Aves to win their first-ever Primeira Liga title.

Sanchez’s deflected free kick gave the home side an early lead in the 23rd minute to relieve the tension and calm the nerves in the Bessa. Silva was in the right place at the right time to head in the second from a corner in the 49th minute and send the crowd into a frenzy. The third goal from Whelliton sealed the result, kicking off a party atmosphere in the streets of Porto.

Led by an organised defense (they conceded just 0.64 goals per game that season) and a South American front that consisted of Brazilians Silva, Duda, and Bolivian star Erwin Sánchez, Boavista were able to fend off Porto and win the league by the narrowest of margins (77 to 76 points).

It was the sweetest of victories for the club and their loyal supporters who, until that point, had most lived in the shadows of inter-city rivals FC Porto. Winning their first league title would finally propel them into a privileged class, and on par with Portugal’s elite clubs.

That year, the Panthers became only the fifth side in Portuguese history to win the coveted league title. Going into the 2000-01 campaign, only Sporting, Benfica, Porto and Belenenses had won the Liga. It was an incredible accomplishment that captured headlines and captivated football fans around the globe.

Almost 24 years later to the day, the club were somehow relegated, facing financial ruin, and on the verge of crashing down to the lower levels of Portuguese football.

European nights

Over his first three seasons with the club, Pacheco had built the foundations of a championship side, but the best was yet to come. It wasn’t long before they were welcoming Europe’s premier clubs to the Bessa. The three-year period between 2000 and 2003 took the club to unimaginable heights and can be looked back on as the golden era of Boavista FC.

The 2001 Champions League group draw pit Pacheco’s side against Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Dynamo Kiev. With their opening match set to take place at Anfield, some teams may have been intimidated. The Panthers, however, were up for the challenge. Brazilian forward Silva opened the scoring for the visitors in the 3rd minute, before a 21-year-old Michael Owen equalised to give the home side a point. Boavista would match that result when the two sides met again in Portugal a few months later.

A 2-1 win against Dortmund proved that this Boavista side belonged at the top level, with Pacheco’s men progressing to the next round after securing eight points from six matches.

In December 2001, they went toe-to-toe with the mighty Manchester United at Old Trafford, holding them scoreless for over 30 minutes before Ruud Van Nistelrooy broke the deadlock. Things may have been different if Duda had converted his early chance, but the striker was denied by a brilliant save from Fabien Barthez.

Goals are undeniably important in football, but it could be argued that one of Boavista’s greatest results turned out to be a 0-0 draw with German juggernauts Bayern Munich. The Portuguese side were outstanding on the night, looking the more likely to score against a talented Munich side that included Stefan Effenberg, Giovane Élber, and Bixente Lizarazu. If not for some masterly goalkeeping from German legend Oliver Kahn, they could’ve walked away with all three points.

The following season, Boavista once again qualified for the Champions League after finishing second in the league. This time, though, their tournament was cut short after a slender 1-0 aggregate defeat to a Guy Roux-led Auxerre team.

In 2003, Boavista would progress all the way to the semifinals of the UEFA Cup, a monumental achievement that put them on the map of European football. They battled valiantly against Celtic, but a late Henrik Larsson strike dashed their hopes of a place in the European championship.

Since 2003, the club have struggled to match the highs of the early 2000s, with a sixth-place finish their best position over the last two decades. Still, those European nights will always hold a special place in the hearts and minds of Boavista supporters.

Renovation of the Estádio do Bessa

Boavista’s stock seemed to be on a steady upward trajectory entering 2004. The European championships were to be hosted in Portugal that year and brought with it not only a renewed optimism for the game, but plenty of investment to build and refurbish stadiums around the nation. The Bessa, which was first completed back in 1910, received an attractive and contemporary facelift for the tournament, giving Boavista one of Portugal’s most modern and unique stadiums.

Almost as a tribute to their English founders (the club was founded in 1903 by two brothers from the UK), the Bessa is a compact stadium that allows supporters to sit within touching distance of the pitch. It offers a similar experience to that of many of the older grounds in Britain. At full capacity, the stadium transforms into a fortress and is regarded as one of the most intimidating atmospheres in the country for opposing players.

The state-of-the-art facility remains one of the most stunning stadiums in Portugal, but the project came at a hefty price. While this was a necessary step to put Bovista on a level playing field with Europe’s top clubs, the investment turned out to be a heavy load, and one that would stunt them financially for years to come.

Rapid decline, financial difficulties and relegation

Going into the 2006 campaign, things seemed to be heading in the right direction, at least on paper. It had been five years since the Panthers had been crowned champions, and while the majority of that title-winning side had moved on, consecutive sixth-place finishes over the previous two seasons meant Boavista remained a threat in the league.

The 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons saw the club finish in mid-table positions, but it was around that point that the cracks began to appear.

The first signs of trouble emerged in 2004 when the Apito Dourado (Golden Whistle) case commenced and some of Portugal football’s most notable figures, including former Boavista chairman, Valentim Loureiro, were named in the investigation. The corruption scandal shook Portuguese football, and Boavista spiralled out of control. After accusations of bribing referees, they were relegated to the second division in 2008.

The club languished in the lower divisions for six seasons, and without the revenue that came with top-tier football, the debts piled up. When they finally returned to the Primeira Liga under the leadership of their former captain and seleção midfielder Petit in 2014, the tide seemed to be turning.

The Apito Dourado, however, was a pivotal moment in the club’s history and the devastating ruling that continues to hamper Boavista till today.

Pain, suffering and the battle for survival

It has been a gruelling 15-year period for a club that has struggled through financial chaos and failed to hold on to some of their top talent. What was once a sizeable squad and a respected youth academy has been decimated by crippling debts and poor management.

Since returning to the top flight in 2014, Boavista has failed to finish a season in the top 8 and has managed to squeeze into the top 10 on just four occasions. It continues to be a strenuous uphill battle for the club, which is somehow managing to tread water in one of the more competitive leagues in Europe.

After starting the 2023-24 campaign with a shock 3-2 win over defending champions Benfica, Boavista continued to defy the odds and persevere despite working on a shoestring budget. That season, the club finished 15th in the standings, narrowly avoiding the relegation playoff after a stoppage-time penalty in a thrilling final-day encounter against Portimonense.

Boavista had somehow achieved the great escape in 2024, but were not so fortunate the following year. After navigating through the competition with three different managers (Cristiano Bacci, Lito Vidigal and Stuart Baxter), the club were only able to amass 24 points in 34 games and finished at the bottom of the table.

It was a crushing blow for the supporters, and a club that was once facing off against the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Liverpool, now faced an uncertain future.

Optimism for the future?

At the moment, things look pretty bleak for the Boavisteiros. There has been a mass exodus with their top players from last year now scattered around the top Portuguese and European leagues. Former captain, Sebastián Pérez, was spotted taking the midfield for Primeira Liga side Casa Pia AC. Slovakian striker Róbert Boženík signed with championship side Stoke City. Uruguayan centre-back Rodrigo Abascal will spend the season with Vitória de Guimarães.

Spanish-Luxembourg businessman Gérard López is the majority owner at the club, but it remains unclear what his intentions are for the struggling club. For now, Boavista will have to rebuild from the bottom. They begin their journey in the fifth division, and will have to gradually work their way back up.

Boavista isn’t the first Portuguese club to punch above their weight, and they likely won’t be the last. Former cup champions like Vitória de Setúbal, Belenenses, Académica de Coimbra, Sport Clube Beira-Mar and Leixões SC are all currently hovering in the lower divisions. The financial demands associated with Primeira Liga football have skyrocketed over the last decade, and many of Portugal’s biggest clubs, such as Boavista, have struggled to keep up.