What do Pinto da Costa, AVB and Nuno Lobo promise?

ANDn the eve of elections at FC Porto, perhaps the most decisive in recent decades, after more than 40 years of almost unanimous Pinto da Costa leading the club, the Sport at the Minute brings together the main ideas of the three presidential candidacies.

Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, from List A, competes alongside André Villas-Boas (List B) and Nuno Lobo (List C). List D, headed by Miguel Brás da Cunha, only competes for the Superior Council.

The election will take place this Saturday, at Estádio do Dragão, between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm, for FC Porto members for over a year and with dues up to date. After 8pm, only members who are in line to vote can exercise their right. The objective of this electoral act is to elect new corporate bodies for a four-year term.

According to the club’s Electoral Regulations, members must present their legally valid identification document (physical or digital) at the voting table, as well as their Membership Card (also physical or digital).

Pinto da Costa (List A)

List A, which represents Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, president for 42 years, announced five axes for the candidacy: Transparency and good governance; Sustainability and growth; Training and scouting; Sports and women’s football; Experience and relationship with partners and fans.

Soccer: For Pinto da Costa, the coach Sergio Conceição is the big focus of his candidacy and he even made a point of renew the contract with the technician for another four years, 48 ​​hours before the election. It also activated the Francisco Conceição’s buyout clause, for 10 million euros, and renewed Pepe, team captain, this last week. Luís Gonçalves will remain as football administrator.

Finances: List A made three proposals for the club’s transparency and good governance: Renewal of the club’s management team, with the entry of “new elements with proven experience in the private sector”; Regular disclosure of financial statements in a clear and understandable way and a larger Independent Audit Committee, with personalities from other lists.

Furthermore, the sustainability of the project is another concern. The A-list wants, in the short term, “implement a cost reduction plan through the application of efficiency improvement policies”. They promise to double revenue in three years, not pay management bonuses, reduce 20% of total costs from the first year and the refinancing of liabilities.

Modalities: A topic that Pinto da Costa has given more importance to in recent months. He promises to study the creation of a team of futsal, organically or through the acquisition of a club. Furthermore, creation of the surfing and the promise of a team of senior women’s football “who will fight every season to win titles”, in the next term.

Academy: It became one of the themes that separates Pinto da Costa’s candidacy and that of Villas-Boas. It is “one of the main priorities of this candidacy”. The management has already purchased land in Maia and the works are underway, despite AVB’s objections. Pinto da Costa promised his end by 2026. In this context, he also promises to implement a “holistic skills program for young people, including physical, mental and emotional management aspects” and greater investment in the scouting department.

Structure: Pinto da Costa presented some new names for his leadership, but maintained his confidence in men like Lourenço Pinto, candidate for President of the General Assembly, or Vítor Baía, for one of the vice-presidents. The millionaire businessman João Rafael Koehler was invited to be vice president, as well as Marta Masada. Antonio Oliveiraformer FC Porto coach and national coach, is a candidate for vice president. José Fernando Figueiredo He will be the successor of Fernando Gomes, administrator of the financial area since 2014.

André Villas-Boas (List B)

The 46-year-old former FC Porto coach is running for president for the first time. He announced “ten commandments” of his program: Values, Victory, Innovation, Financial Health, Planning, FC Porto Foundation, Communication, Integrity, Sustainability, Ethics and Transparency.

Soccer: In this aspect, Villas-Boas tries to innovate with the arrival of Andoni Zubizarreta, former Barcelona player and former manager of the culés and Marseille, where they crossed paths, for the position of sporting director. He has been without a club since 2020. Jorge Costa, former captain of FC Porto, will be the football director. Villas-Boas has criticized the renovations of Sérgio and Francisco Conceição but, as for the coach, AVB admitted that he wants to discuss with him and present his project vision if he is elected.

Finances: Villas-Boas has repeatedly criticized the club’s financial management under the leadership of Pinto da Costa. To deal with the large liabilities of Porto’s SAD, Villas-Boas guaranteed to have agreements with three financial entities that would be willing to renegotiate Porto’s debt. José Pedro Pereira da Costa, former administrator of NOS, is a candidate for CFO. In a very detailed plan, he wants to implement rigorous management, enhancing operational revenues and generating results through asset appreciation.

Modalities: Villas-Boas spoke about creating a team of futsal in the medium term, but promises the creation of futsal teams up to 12 years of age, in line with the football levels. He also talks about the return of men’s volleyball It’s from ‘Clube Ao Atletismo‘. It is quite critical that FC Porto does not yet have a women’s football team, promising under-17, under-19 and senior teams.

Academy: With a different vision from Pinto da Costa, AVB wants “the FC Porto Training Academy to move to the Olival Sports Training and Training Center. For the main team, the B team and the under-19s, a High Performance Center, also in Olival, in Gaia”. This CAR will consist of five lawns, one of which will have benches for 2000 spectators.

Structure: André Villas-Boas proposes a different organization chart than Pinto da Costa, with the sporting director leading football, with five positions below: Director of Professional Football, Director of Scouting, Director of Training, Director of Performance and Director of Women’s Football. Antonio Tavares is the name proposed for President of the Assembly and Rui Pedroto also integrates the structure.

Nuno Lobo (List C)

The lesser-known candidate already ran in the last elections, obtaining 4.91% of the preferences. The businessman has 12 axes in his candidacy: Maintaining the majority of the club in SAD; Update statutes for the new era; Universal and free participation of all members in the life of the club; Increase the number of members; Make the club eclectic; Be present in all associations in the city; Porto Brand (Learnability); Make FC Porto the biggest European club in five years; Assuming that Porto and the North must be treated differently by the political class; Be President of all associates; Creation of a Smart Stadium and organized cheerleading training/school.

Soccer: Nuno Lobo argues that Sergio Conceição he should stay at the club because he has FC Porto’s ‘DNA’. Do you want to bet on scoutingwith international scouts and integration of former players, as well as the creation of branches in Portugal and Latin American countries.

Finances: Nuno Lobo promises attract members, up to 300 thousand, within a period of five years. Increasing the weight of revenues that do not depend on sporting success, restoring equity to positive levels and managing SAD profitably are other objectives. The sale of the designation rights of the Estádio do Dragão, the Dragão Arena pavilion, from the Olival or Campo da Constitution training center emerges as a vehicle for attracting investment for FC Porto.

Modalities: Creation of women’s football and a futsal team as a “non-negotiable proposal”, in addition to a team of glories. And he wants to reactivate training volleyball, cycling, fishing, regattas.

Academy: Lobo proposes the construction, in addition to a training academy (“construction from scratch, owned by FCP”), also a high-performance center dedicated to athletics and a gym for the modalities.

Structure: Luís Barradas is the name proposed for president of the Board of the General Assembly. Helena Roseira is the candidate for the Fiscal and Disciplinary Council.

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