Boavista F.C.

Boavista

Full name	Boavista Futebol Clube
Nickname(s)	As Panteras (The Panthers) Os Axadrezados (The Checkereds)
Founded	1903
Ground	Estádio do Bessa, Porto (Bessa Stadium) (Capacity: 30,000)
Manager	Vítor Paneira
League	Portuguese Second Division Serie A
2008-09	Liga de Honra, 15th (relegated)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Boavista Futebol Clube, often simply known as Boavista (Portuguese pronunciation: [boɐˈviʃtɐ]), is a sports club from Porto, founded on August 1, 1903, one of the oldest in Portugal. Boavista grew to become Porto's second greatest club with sections dedicated to several sports including football, chess, gymnastics, bicycle racing and futsal (among others), the most notable being the football section with their trademark chequered white and black shirts.

Estádio do Bessa, their stadium, was built in 1973 and revamped for use in UEFA Euro 2004, although the plans for renovation were already in place.

History

Internally, Boavista grew from a minor team in the 1970s to a regular fixture in Europe. Their first "threat" to the league title domination by The Big Three was in 1975–76 under the guidance of José Maria Pedroto, when Boavista finished second, achieving the same position again in 1998–99. Finally, in 2000–01, Boavista won the Portuguese Liga after beating Desportivo das Aves 3–0, on 18 May. The following season saw them finish second to Sporting Clube de Portugal.

The panther is the club symbol and nickname.

In Europe, Boavista have achieved some 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 has enjoyed several other highpoints 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 Inter Milan 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, they finished bottom of their group, thus being eliminated, but in 2001, sprang surprise by beating and knocking out German giants Borussia Dortmund 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.

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, where the team conceded the most goals at the same time as having one of the best attacks. This style was mainly the brainchild of coach Jaime Pacheco. With his departure for RCD Mallorca in 2003–04, the team started to play less attractive football over the next two years. This image started to change when Pacheco was replaced by Carlos Brito for the 2005–06 season but, ironically, Pacheco 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. Since, a slight return to the side's hallmark style of play took place.

The women's team is one of the strongest in Portugal, having won several titles in a row during the 1990s.

The Sánchez years

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 2000–01 league and captaining the team, while also participating in the overachieving 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 World Cup qualifiers and finals. Sánchez left the club in March 2004, after a brief and unsuccessful spell as manager.

Later years and major difficulties

2003 marked the latest appearance on the spotlight by the club. The construction of the Estádio do Bessa XXI left a deep hole on the club's finances, and the inability to hire quality players, together with internal turmoil contributed to the fall of the club. Today, after three consecutive failures to achieve European competition, Boavista is living through a deep crisis. 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. Also, a financial crisis prompted the club to a "back-to-basics" attitude, betting on younger players and resurrecting the club's youth academy, in a club that launched the careers of well-known players as João Vieira Pinto, Petit and Nuno Gomes.

Despite finishing 9th in the 2007–08 season, Boavista was relegated to the Liga de Honra, due to alleged intimidation of referees in 2003–04, through their involvement in the Apito Dourado corruption scandal.

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. However, the club's financial debts led to an eventual demotion nonetheless.

Estádio do Bessa

Outside photo

The Estádio do Bessa (now Estádio do Bessa XXI) is Boavista's home ground; it is used solely for football.

Like other stadiums used in UEFA Euro 2004, the Bessa Stadium was built anew 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. 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 Arquitectura.

Current squad

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

No. Position Player 2 DF Fábio 3 DF Sergio 4 DF Daniel 5 DF Jorge Silva 6 DF André Pereira 7 MF Nuno Lopes 8 MF Carlos Miguel 9 FW Fabinho 10 MF Cadinha 13 GK Avelino 14 DF Ruizinho 15 DF Edu 16 DF Pedrosa

No. Position Player 17 DF Nuno Soares 18 MF Vítor Hugo 20 DF Diogo Leite 22 FW Alex Machado 23 MF Baptista 25 DF Pedro Ribeiro 26 MF Joca 27 FW Paulo Campos 33 DF Zé Carlos 44 DF Jorge Rodrigues 47 FW Fonseca 85 GK Nuno Faria

Notable former players

Honours

• Portuguese League (1): 2000–01
• Portuguese Cup (5): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1991–92, 1996–97
• Portuguese Supercup (3): 1979, 1992, 1997

League and cup history

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

Official anthem

"Boavista, Boavista,

É do Porto muito amado; (Very beloved in Porto)

Tem distintivo bairrista (with a strong attachment)

Preto e branco axadrezado. (checkered black and white)

E no estádio a multidão, (In the stadium the crowd)

Quando ele entra na pista, (when it enters the pitch)

Rompe nesta saudação: (bursts this salute)

Boavista! ... Boavista! ...

Luta sempre com vigor, (always fighting hard)

É brioso e é leal; (punchy and loyal)

No prélio põe todo o ardor (leaving its skin in the fight)

De princípio até final; (from start to end)

No seu vibrar sempre amigo, (always with friendly energy)

No seu porte sem igual, (with unmatched allure)

Ama o estandarte querido, (loves its beloved banner)

Prestígio de Portugal! (Portugal's prestige)

Vamos em frente (Straight ahead)

Pela bandeira (for the banner)

Vê-la fulgente (to watch it sparkle)

E altaneira, (and proud)

Ser desportista (To be a sportsman)

Puro ideal, (the ideal pure)

P'lo Boavista! ... (FOR BOAVISTA!!!)

Arraial, arraial, arraial!

See also

• Boavista (cycling team)
• Boavista (futsal)

External links

• Official site (Portuguese)
• Unofficial site (Portuguese)