Boavista F.C.

Boavista

Full name	Boavista Futebol Clube
Nickname(s)	As Panteras (The Panthers) Os Axadrezados (The Chequered ones)
Founded	1903 (1903)
Ground	Estádio do Bessa
Ground Capacity	28,263
President	João Loureiro
Manager	Erwin Sánchez
League	Primeira Liga
2014–15	13th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Boavista Futebol Clube, commonly known as Boavista (Portuguese pronunciation: [boɐˈviʃtɐ]), is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Porto. Founded on 1 August 1903, it is one of the oldest clubs in the country and plays in the Primeira Liga.

It grew to become an important sports club in Portugal, with sections dedicated to several sports including football, chess, gymnastics, bicycle racing, futsal, volleyball, rink hockey and boxing among others, the most notable being the football section with their trademark chequered white and black shirts. The club is the most ecletic in the North region of Portugal and one of the most eclectic sports clubs in Portugal, practicing a total of 16 sports.

One of the most prominent clubs in Portuguese football, with 9 main national titles won (1 Championship, 5 Cups of Portugal, 3 Supercups of Portugal) Boavista spent 39 consecutive seasons in the Primeira Liga (50 in total), winning in 2001, being together with Belenenses, the only team outside the big three to win the Portuguese Championship. Its stadium, Estádio do Bessa, was built in 1973, although football has been played there at the former 'Campo do Bessa' since the 1910s, and was revamped for use in Euro 2004.

History

Early League years (1934–1969)

Boavista was promoted to the Primeira Liga for the first time in 1935–36 and were relegated instantly. For the next two decades they were yo-yos bouncing between the Primeira and Segunda Divisão; their lowest ebb was in 1966, when they were relegated to the Terceira Divisão. They were promoted back to the second tier after two seasons and began building their reputation in earnest.

The Golden Era begins (1969–1981)

Their first "threat" to the league title domination by The Big Three was in 1975–76 under the guidance of Valentim Loureiro and José Maria Pedroto, when Boavista finished second.

From contenders to Champions (1981–2003)

They would be second place again in 1998–99, already in the presidency of João Loureiro. Finally, with the same President and with Jaime Pacheco as coach, in 2000–01, Boavista won the national championship after beating Desportivo das Aves 3–0, on 18 May—the first time in 55 years, and only the second time ever, that a side outside the "Big Three" had won the title. The following season saw them finish second to Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Erwin Sánchez, one of Bolivia's football legends, is widely considered to be Boavista's most influential player of the last 15 years, after helping the club win the 2001 league and captaining the team, while also participating in the over-achieving 2003 European campaign. A midfielder with an accurate and powerful long-range shot and a free-kick specialist, he was a leading player for Bolivia both in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and finals. Sánchez left the club in March 2004, after a brief and unsuccessful spell as its manager.

File:Boavista pantera.jpg

The panther is the club symbol and nickname.

European forays (1981–2003)

In Europe, during the presidencies of Valentim Loureiro and of his son João Loureiro, Boavista have achieved strong success, and are referred to as 'the club with the strange shirts'. The highlight was their brilliant UEFA Cup run in 2002–03, when they were knocked out by Celtic in the semi-finals, just one match from what could have been an all-Portuguese and indeed all-Porto final, with F.C. Porto ultimately lifting the trophy. Boavista enjoyed several other high points in the same competition, including the elimination of Atlético Madrid 5–4 in the first round in 1981–82. In 1986–87, Boavista beat ACF Fiorentina but lost to Rangers in a tense second round match at Ibrox Stadium. In 1991–92, they knocked out F.C. Internazionale Milano 2–1 in the first round and, two seasons later, made it to the quarter-finals after knocking out Greek outfit OFI Crete and S.S. Lazio of Italy.

Boavista qualified twice for the UEFA Champions League. In 1999–2000, although having shown interesting football in the respective matches, they finished bottom of their group, thus being eliminated, but, two seasons later, sprang surprise by beating and knocking out German giants Borussia Dortmund and Dynamo Kiev in the initial group stages, advancing to the next round with Liverpool. There, "The Panthers" met with stronger challenges like Manchester United and FC Bayern Munich. With their financial objective already met, new horizons opened up for the team as they began their group by surprising FC Nantes at home by winning 1–0, and went to the top of the group after the draw between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, eventually finishing a respectable third, only one point behind the qualification.

Boavista has a reputation in Portugal and, to some extent abroad, as an attacking team, playing hard-fought matches, even in defeat. One shining example of this is the 2001 Portuguese title, during the golden João Loureiro's presidency, where the team was the best defense in terms of goals conceded, at the same time having one of the best attacks of the competition. It was only the second time a team other than the Big Three managed to win the title. The other was C.F. Os Belenenses back in the 1945–46 season. This style was mainly the brainchild of coach Jaime Pacheco. With his departure for RCD Mallorca in 2003, the team started to play less attractive football over the next two years and their results began to decline. Pacheco returned but their image only started to change when Pacheco was replaced by Carlos Brito for 2005–06. Ironically, he came back to replace sacked Željko Petrović in October 2006, who in turn was a late replacement for Porto-bound Jesualdo Ferreira, who departed before the first matchday.

Downfall (2003–2008)

2003 marked the latest appearance on the spotlight by the club. The construction of the modern and aesthetic 30.000 all covered seats Estádio do Bessa XXI (and the failure of the promised financing support from the government and municipality of Oporto for that construction) left a deep hole on the club's finances, and the less money to hire quality players, together with internal turmoil, contributed to the fall of the club. So, after three consecutive failures to achieve European competition, Boavista lived through a less brilliant period. Talisman coach Jaime Pacheco returned for a third stint as Boavista manager, but the club did not manage to leave the second half of the table. The financial problems originated by the failure of the public entities promises prompted the club to a "back-to-basics" attitude, betting on younger players and resurrecting the club's youth academy, which launched the careers of well-known players as João Vieira Pinto, Petit, Nuno Gomes, Bosingwa, Raul Meireles and a lot of others.

After the legendary President João Loureiro went out, in 2007, and during the hapless presidency of Joaquim Teixeira, despite finishing ninth in the 2007–08 season, Boavista was relegated in June 2008 to the second division due to intimidation of referees, through its involvement in the Apito Final scandal.

Back to the second and third tiers and to the first tier (2008–present)

The club suffered greatly throughout 2008–09, and although finishing in 15th place was, at first, spared from relegation to the third level, due to the irregularities-related demotion of F.C. Vizela. The club's financial debts, however, led to an eventual demotion nonetheless. This was the first time they played in the Portuguese third tier in 41 years.

In January 2013, João Loureiro, pressed by thousands of members of the club to come back, was elected President once again. After a long legal battle, in June 2013 Boavista was entitled the right to come back to the Portuguese Liga Zon Sagres. Also, after a negotiation with the creditors of the club, the debt was cut in half, which created a lot of hope for the future, and a good number of members of the club are returning once again to the famous Estádio do Bessa.

In February 2014, Boavista also achieved a SIREVE (Companies' Recovery System through Extrajudicial Agreements) with its creditors.

In April 2014, the Executive Committee of the League approved the application for participation in the Primeira Liga in the 2014/2015 season. Through a statement, the Commission explains that the application of the club also received the assent of the Technical Study Group and Audit.

After 6 years, and with the multi-awarded President João Loureiro, it returned to the Primeira Liga in the 2014/2015 season, debuting in Braga with a 3-0 loss against SC Braga. On 14 September 2014, after three defeats in the first three matches, the club recorded their first win in the Primeira Liga with a 1-0 home victory against Académica. After that match, a draw at Dragão Stadium with FC Porto... And other wins came. In the end of the season Boavista was on the 13th place of the table, what was considered a success considering the budget the club had.

Honours

• Primeira Liga

• Winners (1): 2000–01

• Taça de Portugal

• Winners (5): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1991–92, 1996–97
• Runners-up (1): 1992–93

• Supertaça de Portugal

• Winners (3): 1979, 1992, 1997
• Runners-up (1): 2001

• Segunda Divisão

• Winners (2): 1936–37, 1949–50

• Campeonato do Porto

• Winners (1): 1913–14

Rivalries

The club has fierce rivalry with fellow city club FC Porto the games between them sometimes called O Derby da Invicta.

League and cup history

The club has made 50 appearances at the top level of Portuguese football. In 1979, it also won the very first edition of the national supercup.

Season		Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Cup	Europe		Notes
1934–35	2D.4	1	6	6	0	0	36	5	12				Promoted
1935–36	1D	6	14	4	3	7	24	39	11				Relegated
1936–37	2D.2	1	6	4	1	1	22	12	9
1937–38	2D.1	1	6	5	0	1	20	6	10
1938–39	2D.DL	2	10	6	1	3	27	14	13
1939–40	2D.DL	1	8	7	0	1	30	11	14	Quarter-final			Promoted
1940–41	1D	8	14	2	1	11	12	63	5	Last 16			Relegated
1941–42	2D.2.1	2	14	9	2	3	63	23	20
1942–43	2D.2.2	2	10	6	2	2	26	13	14
1943–44	2D.2.2	2	14	12	1	1	76	23	25
1944–45	2D.2	1	8	6	2	0	35	11	14				Promoted
1945–46	1D	11	22	6	0	16	39	73	12
1946–47	1D	9	26	7	6	13	52	74	20	Not held
1947–48	1D	9	26	9	2	15	40	65	20
1948–49	1D	14	26	4	6	16	35	89	14				Relegated
1949–50	2D.B	2	18	12	1	5	56	21	25	Not held			Promoted
1950–51	1D	10	26	10	3	13	50	62	23
1951–52	1D	5	26	12	1	13	47	55	25
1952–53	1D	9	26	7	6	13	35	54	20
1953–54	1D	11	26	7	5	14	29	66	19
1954–55	1D	13	26	7	4	15	33	71	18				Relegated
1955–56	2D.N	1	26	16	6	4	77	35	38
1956–57	2D.N	6	26	13	3	10	54	45	29
1957–58	2D.N	3	26	16	2	8	56	38	34
1958–59	2D.N	2	26	17	4	5	78	43	38				Promoted
1959–60	1D	14	26	4	4	18	27	81	12				Relegated
1960–61	2D.N	3	26	14	1	11	56	35	29
1961–62	2D.N	5	26	10	8	8	30	30	28
1962–63	2D.N	11	26	9	3	14	35	52	21
1963–64	2D.N	9	26	8	8	10	45	60	24
1964–65	2D.N	10	26	9	6	11	37	37	24
1965–66	2D.N	14	26	6	7	13	31	45	19				Relegated
1966–67	3D.2	1	10	6	1	3	15	7	13
1967–68	3D.2	1	10	6	2	2	25	11	14				Promoted
1968–69	2D	1	26	17	5	4	57	21	39				Promoted
1969–70	1D	12	26	6	6	14	35	61	18
1970–71	1D	6	26	9	4	13	18	38	22
1971–72	1D	11	30	7	10	13	28	46	24
1972–73	1D	7	30	12	7	11	41	47	31
1973–74	1D	9	30	9	7	14	35	43	25
1974–75	1D	4	30	16	6	8	58	32	38	Winner
1975–76	1D	2	30	21	6	3	65	23	48	Winner	CWC	2nd round
1976–77	1D	4	30	13	8	9	41	33	34		CWC	2nd round
1977–78	1D	7	30	10	8	12	36	38	28		UC	1st round
1978–79	1D	9	30	12	3	15	36	40	27	Winner
1979–80	1D	4	30	15	7	8	44	30	37		CWC	2nd round
1980–81	1D	4	30	14	8	8	36	25	36		UC	2nd round
1981–82	1D	9	30	10	6	14	36	37	26		UC	2nd round
1982–83	1D	5	30	12	6	12	32	38	30
1983–84	1D	7	30	12	7	11	36	31	31
1984–85	1D	4	30	13	11	6	37	26	37
1985–86	1D	5	30	14	8	8	44	29	36		UC	1st round
1986–87	1D	8	30	9	9	12	34	36	27		UC	2nd round
1987–88	1D	5	38	16	14	8	42	25	46
1988–89	1D	3	38	19	11	8	56	29	49
1989–90	1D	8	34	13	8	13	49	36	34		UC	1st round
1990–91	1D	4	38	15	11	12	53	46	41
1991–92	1D	3	34	16	12	6	45	27	44	Winner	UC	2nd round
1992–93	1D	4	34	14	11	9	46	34	39	Final	CWC	2nd round
1993–94	1D	4	34	16	6	12	46	31	38		UC	Quarter-final
1994–95	1D	9	34	12	8	14	40	49	32		UC	2nd round
1995–96	1D	4	34	19	8	7	59	28	65
1996–97	1D	7	34	12	13	9	62	39	49	Winner	UC	3rd round
1997–98	1D	6	34	15	10	9	54	31	55		CWC	1st round
1998–99	1D	2	34	20	11	3	57	29	71	Quarter-final
1999–00	1D	4	34	16	7	11	40	31	55		CL	Group stage
2000–01	1D	1	34	23	8	3	63	22	77		UC	2nd round	Champions
2001–02	1D	2	34	21	7	6	53	20	70		CL	2nd group stage
2002–03	1D	10	34	10	13	11	32	31	43		(CL)/UC	Semi-final
2003–04	1D	8	34	12	11	11	32	31	47
2004–05	1D	6	34	13	11	10	39	43	50	Semi-final
2005–06	1D	6	34	12	14	8	37	29	50	Quarter-final
2006–07	1D	10	30	8	11	11	32	34	35	Quarter-final
2007–08	1D	9	30	8	12	10	32	41	36	5th round			Relegated in court
2008–09	2D	15	30	9	5	16	28	44	32	4th round			Relegated
2009–10	3D.N	7	28	10	7	11	34	38	37	1st round
2010–11	3D.C	2	30	16	8	6	46	25	56	1st round
2011–12	3D.C	4	30	15	5	10	43	31	50	1st round
2012–13	3D.N	10	30	9	11	10	44	40	38	1st round
2013–14	3D.N	4	32	21	5	6	59	26	68	2nd round			Promoted to Primeira Liga in court
2014–15	1D	13	34	9	7	18	27	50	34	3rd round

Current squad

As of 7 August 2015

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Mika 2 DF Samuel Inkoom 3 DF Fábio Ervões 4 MF Reuben Gabriel 5 DF Paulo Vinícius 6 DF Anderson Correia 7 MF Rúben Ribeiro 8 MF Tengarrinha 9 FW Uche Nwofor 10 FW Imanol Iriberri 11 FW Christian Pouga 12 GK Gideão 14 DF Emmanuel Hackman 17 FW Renato Santos

No. Position Player 22 DF Carlos Santos 23 DF Nuno Henrique 25 DF Afonso Figueiredo 27 MF Anderson Carvalho 28 DF Tiago Mesquita 29 GK Mamadou Ba 30 MF Ancelmo Júnior 42 MF Idrissa Mandiang 70 MF Zé Manuel 75 FW Michael Uchebo 77 FW Luisinho 88 MF Samu 94 DF Philipe Sampaio 95 MF André Bukia

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player — MF Julián Montenegro (at Farense) — MF Fábio Lopes (at Farense) — MF Diogo Gouveia (at Mafra) — FW Yoro Lamine Ly (at BFC Daugavpils)

No. Position Player — MF Nuno Pereira (at Vila Real) — DF Luís Pimenta (at Gondomar) — DF Ian Pereira (at Gondomar) — DF Alex Junior Christian (at Vila Real)

Notable Former Players

Goalkeepers

• Alfredo
• Ricardo
• William Andem

Defenders

• Barny
• Bosingwa
• Frechaut
• Frederico Rosa
• Jorge Silva
• Litos
• Mário Silva
• Paulo Sousa
• Pedro Emanuel
• Ricardo Silva
• Isaías Aragão
• Paulo Turra
• Quevedo

Midfielders

• Casaca
• Diamantino
• Hélder
• Jaime Alves
• João Alves
• Nelo
• Nogueira
• Petit
• Raul Meireles
• Rui Bento
• Tavares
• Erwin Sánchez
• Marlon Brandão
• Phil Walker
• Bobó
• Kaźmierczak
• Timofte
• Latapy

Forwards

• João Vieira Pinto
• Jorge Couto
• Martelinho
• Nuno Gomes
• Artur
• Duda
• Silva
• Isaías
• Douala
• Ayew
• Zoran Filipović
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
• Ricky
• Fary

Stadium

Outside photo

The Estádio do Bessa (later Estádio do Bessa XXI) is Boavista's home ground, used solely for football.

Like other stadiums used in UEFA Euro 2004, the stadium was rebuilt for the competition, but on top of the old stands, and each one of them at a different time, allowing Boavista to continue playing there. It cost €45,164,726, from which €7,785,735 were supported from the Portuguese state, and featured an all-seater capacity of 28,263 spectators. Plans for improvement actually existed before the organization of the Euro 2004 was given to Portugal in 1999, and by then, the first works were already underway. It was designed by Grupo 3 Arquitectura.

Colours

Originally fully black, Boavista's kit changed throughout the years. In the 1920s the shorts were changed to white while everything else remained the same. Years later and due to the color black being considered morbid and generating a non-consensual feeling towards certain fans, the club's board decided to introduce a black and white striped shirt. Even though if drastically reduced the color black from the kit, it still proved unpopular with some supporters.

Boavista then took the drastic measure to field a team with a shirt made of red, white and blue stripes. The kit was met with some negative remarks from the press and fans, so the colors and patterns had to be changed. After a board member's trip to France, he witnessed a French team playing with a black and white checkered shirt, the dominant colors Boavista had historically on their football kits. Upon his return the team's shirt was finally changed, while the crest was also changed to reflect the new identity Boavista had reached. The checkered shirts were first used in a match against S.L. Benfica, on 29 January 1933, with Boavista winning 4-0.

Kit evolution

Boavista's first home colours

Second home colours

Third home colours

Fourth home colours

1933–Present

Women's team

The women's team is one of the strongest in Portugal, having won several titles in a row during the 1990s, as well as the formation U-19, U-17. U-15 and U-13 teams, that won all national championships, and brought up several talented and famous international players.

See also

• Boavista (cycling team)
• Boavista (futsal)

External links

• Official website (Portuguese)
• Boavista F.C. at Primeira Liga (Portuguese)