André Villas-Boas: “We’re here to serve you” | OneFootball

This Saturday, October 11, Club Day is being celebrated at Estádio do Dragão. With the VIP Tribune sold out, André Villas-Boas opened the event addressed to FC Porto supporters and began by “thanking the associative movement that has been seen on several fronts,” which has resulted in a 15% annual increase in the number of members.

According to the president of FC Porto, “this percentage still does not truly reflect the real meaning of what it is to grow and to be Porto,” but it already represents “a new way of living the Club and a new commitment to FC Porto.” Thanking the dedication of the members, André Villas-Boas encouraged everyone to visit the memorial to the President of Presidents, describing it as a place “increasingly beautiful and sentimental” where there are “many photographs, dedications, messages, and membership cards,” all with great “symbolic value.”

In the final part of his speech, the club leader stated that the main team has “renewed ambitions” and has “a coach who knows what FC Porto is, what the carnal relationship of the fans with the Club is, and what the values of FC Porto are,” factors that allow the 2025/26 season to be faced with “renewed energy.”

Renewed Commitment“I want to thank you for this associative movement that is seen here on Club Day and that has been seen on several fronts. The number of members is growing by 15% per year and I think that percentage still does not truly reflect the real meaning of what it is to grow and be Porto. Last year, perhaps, we reflected on this because of the electoral movement, but the reality is that this has nothing to do with the electoral movement. It is a new way of living FC Porto, a new commitment to FC Porto, after the launch of the Member Portal and the Ticketing Portal, all movements for which you are responsible, and I cannot fail to thank you for this growth.”

The Diamond Rosettes“We, as the Board, are here to serve you and to provide you with a better experience. Recently, we handed out the Diamond Rosettes, which was a super exciting and emotional event, with FC Porto members aged 94 coming up to that stage. It was very meaningful and we honored the Diamond Rosettes with the celebration on the Club’s anniversary.”

Club Day on the Club’s Anniversary“I want to challenge this wonderful trio, Paulo Bizarro, Paulo Santos, and Bruno Sousa, to hold Club Day on FC Porto’s anniversary. We have talked about the possibility of holding the Dragões de Ouro on September 28, and Club Day would add to and embellish the associative movement around FC Porto, because it includes gatherings and get-togethers with the presence of former players and old Club legends who share stories.”

September 28“We want, as the Board, to transform the Club’s anniversary. It is a day that honors the great people who have passed through this Club; we go to the Mausoleum to honor those who are there, people who gave everything on the field, people who died this year and whom we will greatly miss, but it has to be more than that. It has to be an associative movement, it has to be organic, it has to be a gathering, it has to be passion for FC Porto, and Club Day together with the Dragões de Ouro would give a very beautiful meaning to this date.”

Memorial to the President of Presidents“I would really like you to visit the memorial to the President of Presidents, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa. The number of objects and tributes was enormous and what is down there represents 20%. Many of the messages there will touch you deeply. We tried to follow a chronological order and those objects there are the first ones that were left. The memorial has become increasingly beautiful and increasingly sentimental, because people no longer just left their scarves, but left messages with great symbolic value. There are many photographs, dedications, messages, membership cards. Take some time to read the messages, because I think it is worthy and beautiful.”

A Busy Saturday“Today we have a historic match between our Vintage Dragons and the Slovakian national team, which will surely be entertaining. Normally there are more bruises than goals, but it will be entertaining. I hope you enjoy this Club Day, long live our Futebol Clube do Porto, and may this be a great season. We already suffered enough last season, we have renewed ambitions, we have invested a lot in the team and we have a coach who knows what FC Porto is, what the carnal relationship of the fans with the Club is, what the values of FC Porto are, the feeling, and we all have renewed energy.”

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