The Portuguese Primeira Liga does not generate enough revenue for its clubs to compete with the ‘big boys’ of Europe. Despite this, however, 27-times Primeira Liga winners FC Porto regularly compete in the highest reaches of European football and produce a seemingly inexhaustible supply of talented players. So what’s their secret?
Portugal’s three major clubs are Sporting Lisbon, Benfica and FC Porto – three big fish in a relatively small pond. Of these, FC Porto is the most intriguing, consistently ‘punching above their weight’ in the Champions League year-on-year.
The Portuguese market is one in which many domestic clubs struggle financially. The only realistic way for Porto to keep up with Europe’s elite is to sell the players that they develop. In that way, they can just about find enough money to fund a wage bill that will allow them to be competitive.
To give you some idea of the disparity, Arsenal receive more money from TV rights playing in the English Premier League than the whole of the 16 Portuguese clubs combined.
Qualification for Champions League therefore becomes imperative, and reaching the knockout stages can be the difference between making a loss and the ability to break even, subject to player sales.
Porto are forced to reinvent themselves every season, with no player being irreplaceable. When Carvalho left for England, Pepe was brought in; when Real Madrid moved for him, Bruno Alves was his replacement, and so it goes on. It’s an ‘adapt or die’ scenario.
The club’s rigidly-held principles are:
- Scout, scout and scout, using their world-class network.
- Buy cheap – acquire players in their teens/early 20s.
- Develop talent, benefit from this enhancement over a couple of seasons and sell when the ‘big boys’ come knocking.
- Sell any player, when another club offers more than he is worth.
- Replace your best players even before you sell them.
- Help players to relocate.
This last principle is one which the club has been particularly successful at in regards to South American players, with Porto regularly finding, recruiting, settling and developing many such players over recent years.
Even though Porto cannot afford to pay high wages, they still have much to offer South American players including regular participation in the Champions League, which often provides a ‘shop window’ for emerging talent. Additionally, players can easily obtain work permits and embark on the path towards an EU passport, which in turn makes them a more attractive prospect to clubs in countries with more restrictive regulations. Relocation can be relatively simple, especially for Brazilian players, who do not have to struggle with any language issues.
www.playerdevelopmentproject.com
There are other benefits from the success achieved at FC Porto, too. Firstly, they are considered an excellent ‘loan’ club. The richer clubs of Europe, and in particular Spain, see a period on loan to Porto with guaranteed game time vital to their youngsters’ development. This is something of a ‘double edged sword’, however, as it strengthens Porto’s squad in their quest for the Primeira Liga and ultimately Champions League status.
Secondly, hiring young unproven talent also allows a greater control of wages. To put this into context, Barcelona’s wage bill is seven times, and Arsenal’s three times that of FC Porto. There is also the opportunity for the players to work with young, innovative European coaches, who are following in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas.
To put this into context, Barcelona’s wage bill is seven times, and Arsenal’s three times that of FC Porto.
With a mix of talented South Americans and the elite of Portuguese and Spanish youth football, who are all keen to learn and advance, this is Porto’s recipe for success. The success of the approach is evident when we look at the players who have appeared for FC Porto in recent years: almost a ‘who’s who’ of European football.
And you can add to this list Mangala (€40m) and Fernando (€15m) to Manchester City in 2014 (see infographic 1).
Since 2004, FC Porto have made a net gain on transfers in excess of €225m. They have become the ultimate football traders, buying low and selling high with great success. It is an approach which should be applauded, especially as their results on the pitch have rarely suffered.
With their annual influx to replace the rest of Europe’s expensive signings there is huge interest in who’ll be the next to catch the eye of the football world. So who is potentially the next kid ‘off the block’?
Oliver Torres for the U21 Spanish team. Photo: VAVEL Espan?a (www.vavel.com)
In July 2014, FC Porto signed 19-year- old Oliver Torres, simply known as Oliver, on loan from Atletico Madrid. As the youngest member of FC Porto’s first-team squad, attacking midfielder Oliver has hit all of the milestones in Spanish football, gaining international honours from U18 through to U21.
FC Porto also appointed the former Spanish U19, 20 and 21 coach Julen Lopetegui in July, and this can only help Oliver as he transitions to a new environment. Playing alongside the likes of Cristian Tello (23 years old) from Barcelona and one of Porto’s own Hector Herrera (24) – who had a stellar World Cup with Mexico – and the young Colombian Juan Quintero (20), Oliver can only benefit from this experience.
And with Spain having qualified for the U21 Euro Championships in the Czech Republic in June 2015, there is every chance that we will see more of the talented youngster. If so, and if Oliver lives up to his billing, it’ll be us that are asking for ‘more’…please.
Cover Image:
FC Porto vs Shakhtar Donetsk, Champions League 2011/12. Photo: © Virin | Dreamstime.com
