“FC Porto are back where they belong” | OneFootball

André Villas-Boas traveled to Monção, “a city full of Porto supporters and a territory that should be dominated by Porto supporters,” to experience “a wonderful night,” marking the 25th anniversary of Casa FC Porto – Monção, on an occasion that made “FC Porto’s expansion in the North” clear.

In a light-hearted mood, the “FC Porto Conversions Department” was even created to welcome the Mayor, and the Dragons’ leader highlighted the “20% annual growth in membership,” also recalling that winning the 31st National Championship “makes FC Porto currently the Club with the most titles in national football” — “internationally, we already know; nationally, it is FC Porto” — before thanking them for the gift of a painting featuring the number two, which “means the Porto spirit, sweat, blood, sweat and tears”: “The presence of this number expresses so much of what we are, a people who endure, a Porto spirit that endures, that fights, that wins, that survives, that is demanding, that always wants to win, that wants to be victorious.”

“I will finish by saying that FC Porto, after four years, returned to the place it should never leave, and that is why we want to work harder and harder so that we never let go of this first place again,” concluded André Villas-Boas, convinced that everyone “wants more”: “We did it together and we move forward together again, until the next one.”

25 years of devotion to FC Porto“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful night in which we felt the full Porto spirit of what FC Porto’s expansion in the North means, here in Monção, in a celebration of 25 years of an altruistic spirit, not only from president António Simões, but also from the people who launched this Casa FC Porto – Monção initiative, rightly awarded in 2007 with the Golden Dragon for all its effort and all the contribution it has made to the growth of FC Porto, its membership base, its supporters, and this presence in the region, as President António Simões says. We are the only club among the big three with a supporters’ house in Monção, and that sets us apart greatly, lifts us greatly, and marks Monção as a great city full of Porto supporters and a territory that should be dominated by Porto supporters.”

A passion that stretches from North to South“I would like to begin this speech by returning the thanks for the words of President António Barbosa and telling him right away that he has all the FC Porto DNA. When you said you are very sorry not to be a Porto supporter, you summed up your desire to be one. I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart that your father will not take it badly, even though he was a Sporting supporter. We all want to pass our club on to our children, but seeing such conviction, such a deep desire, and then a man who defends the North so firmly, who knows the difficulties the North faces more and more in asserting itself nationally, I think the ‘FC Porto Conversions Department’ will open and you, Mr. President, will be member number one. Jokes aside, I want to thank you for your altruism, your hospitality, your kindness, and also that of Solar de Serrade in welcoming so many Porto supporters. This FC Porto statement of identity happened 25 years ago, in Praça Deu-la-Deu, with the presence of great Porto supporters, 400 of them, many of whom must also be here today. This is Porto reinforcement; it is our love for blue and white.”

Unprecedented membership growth“We started the season with a scarf that said ‘We Move Forward Together’ and we turned it into ‘We Achieved It Together.’ I think FC Porto has grown a lot in recent years, especially in terms of membership. We are growing 20% per year, and that comes largely from this spirit that passes from one person to another and from these achievements, from this magnificent trophy that makes FC Porto currently the Club with the most titles in national football, because internationally we already know, but nationally it is FC Porto. It is something we can be proud of.”

The painting with the number 2“Continuing everything that is here, this magnificent work, which I will be very pleased to display at the FC Porto Museum, I would then like to place it a little closer to me, near the entrance to my offices, because this number two means not only João Pinto and Jorge Costa, but many others as well. It means the Porto spirit, sweat, blood, sweat and tears, of course. It is the only reason we have red numbers on our shirts. It is the soul of FC Porto, it is our DNA, they are people who transformed FC Porto by giving everything, wearing the shirt out like no one else. We have unique images left to us by João Pinto and Jorge Costa, people we always look to as the ultimate meaning of what it is to be a Porto supporter, together with Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, and the presence of this number expresses much of what we are: a people who endure, a Porto spirit that endures, that fights, that wins, that survives, that is demanding, that always wants to win, that wants to be victorious, and these principles and values are very well expressed here in this painting. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. So, I will entrust it to the Museum, as the president of FC Porto should, then I will bring it a little closer to me, because looking at this number and what it means to us is very important. It also stands for many other people who gave a lot to FC Porto, starting of course with our president, but it also means Pedroto, Sérgio Conceição, Fernando Santos, Bobby Robson, many coaches, many people who with me won European titles, two of whom are here by my side, Rolando and Helton, who also conquered Europe, 15 years ago this year. All this sets FC Porto apart as the Club with the most international titles, something that makes our history very proud.”

Francisco Araújo“I want to thank you for this wonderful night, which was also only possible because of a man like Francisco Araújo, who has always been by my side, who has never left me alone in the expansion of FC Porto’s membership life and the Casas do FC Porto, which he has energized. Of course, Francisco has imposed his rules; he is a man from a military background, highly demanding, and being as demanding as he is, he sets the rules, but always for a greater purpose and greater good, which is the growth of FC Porto and our membership base. I would also like to ask for a round of applause for him, because I think he has done a good job.”

We achieved it together“I will finish by saying that FC Porto, after four years, returned to the place it should never leave, and that is why we want to work harder and harder so that we never let go of this first place again. It is a place that belongs to us, where we feel good, and that is why it is important to maintain our foundations, keep the team strong, and thank a group of players who were unique this season, who despite many changes knew perfectly well what FC Porto is. Those who were able to witness that first presentation match at the Dragão Stadium, against Atlético de Madrid, felt a different atmosphere, even bearing in mind that we were coming off a very difficult season. We moved forward together so that we could achieve it together. It was this whole unique understanding by this group of players and the coach of what FC Porto’s mystique is that delivered us this 31st title, but we want more. So, we achieved it together, and we move forward together again, until the next one. Long live FC Porto.”

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