Villas-Boas: First year at FC Porto was tough, goals not met | OneFootball

André Villas-Boas was present this Friday at the Portugal Football Summit, in Cidade do Futebol, Oeiras, where he was asked about his feelings during the first months of his term as president of FC Porto, after succeeding the late Pinto da Costa in April 2024. The initial stretch of his term as president of FC Porto.

“It's a life made of great changes and adventures. Transitioning from coach to president, what remains is the unique love for FC Porto, what it represents in terms of values and principles. It's an obligation, a sense of mission. My purpose is to deliver it better than I received it, which will be difficult considering the historical and glorious past. I hope with many titles, with associative growth, and a huge personal transformation. My day-to-day involves leading teams. I can be proud that I will have one of the best management teams in the country, and that's why we've had these results in 16 months,” he began by saying.

“In the sports plan, we aim for titles. My first year of term was tough... FC Porto fell short of the goals, with some changes in between, a massive financial restructuring. FC Porto moved about 450 million euros in market and financial operations. That was what saved it. The club was in a critical situation. We had 15 days to pay 15 million. We had six months to pay 115 million euros. The situation was dangerous, and we were helped by members. Only then did we manage one of the most notable financial operations for Portuguese clubs, which will surely be replicated by the other two 'big' [Sporting and Benfica]. We sold 30% of the commercial rights, and the injection served to save FC Porto, keeping it as a members' club. It is our greatest purpose, and that's how we want to leave it,” emphasized the president of the blues and whites.

“Fortunately, I found very methodical, very professional people who dedicated themselves heart and soul to the destiny of FC Porto. They are people who helped me reach and execute a plan where there was no capital. We had to rely on the members, those who love FC Porto, who allowed us to raise 15 million euros for the salaries of employees and players. The club was in a critical situation (…) We didn't want any of this to happen with the violence of ending the season in third place, despite having won the Super Cup, in a year where we participated in many competitions. We can be proud of that achievement, but it was not enough...,” he added.

Villas-Boas also discussed the idea of creating an Iberian Super Cup, mentioning rivals Benfica and Sporting and suggesting the inclusion of Spanish clubs in the competition.

“If we think about other sports besides football, we know we have various types of competitions, like Iberian Super Cups or cross-border leagues. I believe football is heading in that direction. I launched the challenge to Pedro Proença [president of the Portuguese Football Federation] and the other two 'big' Portuguese clubs, as well as to Spanish clubs, at the beginning of my term. Now, we're all at odds, but the idea stuck, and it was well received by Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Benfica, Sporting, and the FPF,” he revealed.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.