André Villas-Boas: “I’ve honoured Pinto da Costa’s legacy” | OneFootball

André Villas-Boas once again addressed one of the most sensitive issues in FC Porto’s life: the connection to the legacy of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa and the role of his family in that shared memory. In remarks focused less on rupture and more on managing the past, the president drew the line between institutional tribute and family matters, while also insisting on the need to unite the Porto universe around one of the greatest figures in the club’s history. And, in summing up his position, he assured: “honor the past.”

At a time when any reference to FC Porto’s recent past carries strong symbolic weight, André Villas-Boas sought to bring the debate back to what matters most: the club, memory, and respect for a legacy he considers untouchable. The president spoke with the conviction that the name of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa remains an emotional pillar of Porto identity, and that was the path through which he delivered his main message.

Asked about relations with the former president’s family and the bridges he says he tried to build, Villas-Boas answered without shying away from the tension, but also without allowing it to contaminate the club’s institutional space. His response clearly defined the tribute owed to a historic figure and the disputes that belong to the private sphere.

“Yes, they tried to burn bridges… The presence of Pinto da Costa’s family is a way of staying close to the name Pinto da Costa and to his legacy, a family legacy, obviously. Of course, there is one thing FC Porto does not get involved in, and that is disputes concerning that family. What unites us is Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, and it is Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa who unites all Porto supporters,” he said. “Therefore, everything that happens in relation to the family is about tributes and, above all, a right they have to live the glory their father achieved at FC Porto. Now, the club must remain detached from all family-related issues. We do not get involved in that. We warmly invite the family whenever there is an event that we believe is important, related not only to the history of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, but also to the history of FC Porto, starting of course with winning titles.”

More than a routine response, Villas-Boas’s remarks sought to establish a guiding principle: closeness in remembrance, distance in disputes. In his view, the memory of Pinto da Costa is common ground; everything else is a matter FC Porto refuses to become involved in.

When the conversation moved on to the idea of hurt feelings and the possibility of an incomplete reconciliation within the Porto community, the president once again placed the focus on the responsibility of preserving the former president’s name. He did so in a tone of duty, almost of moral mandate.

“I have done nothing other than honor the past of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa. It is an obligation and an enormous responsibility that I must uphold,” he stressed. “We had a historic turnout at his memorial, and that historic turnout is the umbilical cord linking Porto supporters to the president of presidents. Therefore, my greatest responsibility is to continue to elevate and honor his good name.”

In this passage, Villas-Boas spoke less about formal reconciliation than about emotional continuity. His reading is clear: the bond between Porto supporters and Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa remains intact, and it is up to the current leadership to treat it with solemnity, without confusing it with the surrounding noise that may arise around the family and the succession of memories.

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