FC Porto

When Rabah Madjer helped FC Porto win the European Cup with a marvelous back heel back in 1987, many thought it would be a one-off success for the Oporto outfit. But of late the Portistas have come back with a vengeance. After establishing themselves as the strongest team in the Portuguese league during the nineties, FC Porto returned to the centre stage of European football in 2003, when José Mourinho guided the club to UEFA Cup glory. Twelve months later Mourinho and his players performed the unthinkable by winning a Champions League title. And this time around it seems that Porto are to stay at the forefront of European club football.

FC Porto was founded in 1893 by António Nicolau de Almeida. The football home ground is now the Estádio do Dragão (finished in 2003 as a venue for Euro 2004) after 51 years of playing in the Estádio das Antas.

The 'Dragões' (Dragons), as Porto are lovingly referred to in Portugal, are currently the favourites to win the Portuguese league as they have done twenty times before. A new title and ticket to Champions League football will provide manager Jesualdo Ferreira with enough financial means to keep his already top notch squad up to par and perhaps even bring in some reinforcements. Ferreira is certain to want to keep quality players such as Quaresma, Pepe and Helder Postiga aboard as he aims for new international success for the two-time winner of the Intercontinental Cup.

The Port of Rotterdam Tournament could not wish for a better representative of Latin football than FC Porto.