A fresh breeze is blowing through the Estádio do Dragão. This Saturday, André Villas-Boas, the club’s president, spoke to FC Porto members. He shared his happiness with how the football team has started this season. Villas-Boas pointed out the money invested in the squad. He also stressed the key role of coach Francesco Farioli. All this took place during the annual Club Day, a special occasion. Later, the FC Porto Vintage team, made up of club legends, played a match against former Slovakia stars.
The atmosphere pulsed with renewed energy. Villas-Boas described the vintage match as a “historic game.” He promised it would be entertaining, even joking that there would likely be more bumps and bruises than goals. He looked forward to a great season, reminding everyone of the struggles from the year before. “We’ve faced enough pain,” he said. “Now, our goals are new.” He underlined the big investment in the team. Crucially, he spoke about having a coach who truly understands FC Porto. This means knowing the deep bond fans have with the club, its core values, and its spirit.
A Shared Journey, Stronger Bonds
The president thanked the members for their strong involvement. He called it an “associative movement” that can be seen everywhere, not just at Club Day. He pointed out that club membership is growing by 15 percent each year. This number, he felt, still doesn’t fully capture what it means to grow with Porto. He was clear: this growth goes beyond any past elections. It shows a fresh way of experiencing FC Porto and a new commitment from everyone. He gave credit to the members for the success of the new Members Portal and the Ticketing Portal.
Honoring Club Heroes
Villas-Boas also highlighted the club’s dedication to its most loyal supporters. He mentioned the recent Diamond Rosettes ceremony. This event was very moving, with members as old as 94 stepping onto the stage. He said it carried deep meaning, and the club made sure to celebrate it on their anniversary day. This shows how much the management values the club’s history and its devoted members.
Anniversary Plans: A Day to Remember
Looking ahead, Villas-Boas issued a challenge to Paulo Bizarro, Paulo Santos, and Bruno Sousa. He wants them to host Club Day on FC Porto’s anniversary, September 28th. There’s also talk of holding the Golden Dragons awards on the same date. Combining these events, he believes, would enrich the community spirit around the club. It would feature discussions and social gatherings with former players and club greats sharing their stories. The management aims to transform the anniversary into something truly special. It’s a day to remember those who gave their all, including visiting the Mausoleum for those who have passed. But it needs to be more than just a tribute; it should be a lively, passionate movement, deeply rooted in the love for FC Porto. Bringing Club Day and the Golden Dragons together would give the date a beautiful new meaning.
A Lasting Tribute
Finally, Villas-Boas urged everyone to visit the memorial for Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa. He called him the “President of Presidents.” The amount of items and tributes left there was huge, he noted. What visitors see now is only about 20 percent of it. He promised that many of the messages displayed would touch people deeply. The memorial was set up in time order, starting with the first items left. Over time, it grew more beautiful and more personal. People began leaving more than just scarves; they added messages full of symbolic importance, photographs, special notes, and even old member cards. He asked everyone to spend time reading these powerful messages, calling the memorial both “worthy and beautiful.”