The outlook of the best and worst decisions made by FC Porto managers in the last 15 years.
Background history: FC Porto is one of the oldest clubs still in activity in Portugal. The Portuguese club was founded in Porto on September 28, 1893, by Antonio Nicolau d’Almeida, a local businessman who wanted to put his project into practice by founding a club in the city.
36 years and counting, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa marks the longest streak of a chairman directing a football club.
The Portuguese club made history as they achieved their second Champions League title in Gelsenkirchen. The first-ever one dating back to 1987 against Bayern Munich.
On January 2002, Porto appointed Jose Mourinho as their head coach in the Portuguese League and months later with the help of Deco, Derlei, Sergio Conceicao and Co. the club presented magnificent football in the Champions League, marking the presence in the final against Monaco in Gelsenkirchen. The blues and white comfortably beat the Monegasques 3-0 with the courtesy of Carlos Alberto, Deco and Dmitri Alenichev.
However, the Portuguese manager was not included in the list of coaches with most official games at the Dragao.
Between the coaches that managed the Dragons in the last 15 years, Jesualdo Ferreira retains the record in most official games played at Estadio do Dragao. A total of 67 wins out of 89 played at the same venue. Ferreira helped Porto become the first-ever team to win four league titles in a row in 2009.
Vitor Pereira is below Ferreira in the list with an impressive 36 wins in 42 games as a coach. He carries the most win record (85.7%) alongside the coaches with more games at the Dragao. This was fundamental for the achievement of the Primeira Liga, both in 2012 and 2013. Brazilian winger Kelvin, scored the winner against Benfica at home in the 92nd minute. At 19 years of age, he helped his teammates achieve the Primeira League title, which saw a Former Benfica manager, Jorge Jesus kneeled down after the winning goal was scored by Kelvin – an unforgettable moment.
Former Benfica manager, Jorge Jesus kneeled down after the winner was scored.
The ultimate place is occupied by Julen Lopetegui as he holds a total of 31 victories in 39 games.
Porto’s current coach, Sergio Conceicao is placed fourth on the list, registering a sum of 30 wins in 36 matches. One of those matches symbolises the triumph over Feirense the same night Porto won the 2017/18 league.
Andre Villas-Boas who conducted the Dragons to a 2-0 win over Benfica in the Portuguese Supercup and continued to succeed as the Blues manager leading them to an undefeated season in the Primeira Liga in 2011/12. This feat has only ever been reached twice where he won the title more than 20 points clear and having only conceded 13 goals all season. The 41-year-old manager registered 24 victories in 29 games during a golden season – four titles in 2010/11.
Jesualdo Ferreira – 89 games
Vitor Pereira – 42 games
Julen Lopetegui – 39 games
Sergio Conceicao – 36 games
Andre Villas-Boas – 29 games
Hard-hitting reality: Four years, six coaches and zero titles.
Nuno Espirito Santo, FC Porto manager 2016.
Before winning the league in 2017/18, Porto had never been more than three years in a row without winning a title under Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa 32 years in the presidency. The absence of success began in 2013/14 when the club sacked one manager after the other.
Julen Lopetegui, Luis Castro, Rui Barros and Jose Peseiro had an unsuccessful time under the Dragons seat.
Current Wolves’ manager, Nuno Espirito Santo had a challenging time at Porto when he became to the first manager to get sacked by the blues’ president after the first, though he was contracted for two seasons. Nuno was the sixth manager to manage Porto in four seasons of authentic disappointment.
A similar story was of Paulo Fonseca in 2013/14, who left the club in the middle of the season with Luis Castro (FC Porto B manager at the time) who took over the role.
In 2015/16, Porto started the season under the Spanish Julen Lopetegui and mid-season Jose Peseiro came to replace him.
Since Vitor Pereira consecrate two-time champion in 2012/13, Paulo Fonseca, Luis Castro, Julen Lopetegui, Rui Barros, Jose Peseiro and Nuno Espirito Santo.
Read here: Premier League clubs’ worst decisions.
Their time at FC Porto:
FC Porto fans showing their support.
Andre Villas-Boas – 2010/11 (1 Primeira Liga title, 1 Portuguese Cup, 1 Supercup and 1 Europa League)
Jose Mourinho – From 2002 to 2003/2004 (2 Primeira Liga titles, 1 Portuguese Cup, 1 Supercup, 1 Champions League and 1 UEFA Cup)
Jesualdo Ferreira – From 2006/07 to 2009/10 (3 Primeira Liga titles, 2 Portuguese Cup and 1 Supercup)
Bobby Robson – From 1994 to 1995/96 (2 Primeira Liga titles, 1 Portuguese Cup and 1 Supercup)
Antonio Oliveira – From 1996/97 to 1997/98 (2 Primeira Liga titles, 1 Portuguese Cup and 1 Supercup)
Bruna Reis 