FC Porto celebrated its annual Gala Dragões de Ouro at the Superbock Arena – Pavilhão Rosa Mota, honoring standout figures from the 2025–26 sporting season while club president André Villas-Boas announced official approval for a new training facility in Vila Nova de Gaia, Maisfutebol reported. The ceremony brought together club leadership, athletes, and supporters to recognize achievements across football and extended sports disciplines.
Villas-Boas Details the Year of the Dragon and New Training Facility Approval
Addressing the audience at the start of the 39th edition of the gala, club president André Villas-Boas described the 2025–26 campaign as the “ano do Dragão.” He highlighted the football department’s 31st senior national championship alongside clean sweeps in the youth ranks. FC Porto captured national titles at under-19, under-17, and under-15 levels in what the club termed a historic sweep, while the B team matched its points record in the Segunda Liga.
Villas-Boas also confirmed that the club secured official licensing to proceed with construction on a new High-Performance Center. Located near the existing facilities at Olival in Vila Nova de Gaia, the new infrastructure will house the senior football squad and the B team. “The objective is not just to win today, but to leave FC Porto better prepared to win tomorrow,” Villas-Boas stated during his opening address.
Tributes and Team Honors Highlighted by Emotional Absence
The football department’s Team of the Year award went to Estela Costa. Presenting the honor, club figures dedicated the distinction to Jorge Costa, who would have turned 55 days after the event. The ceremony also spotlighted achievements in other sports, including a basketball league title won after a ten-year drought, a domestic double in women’s volleyball, and a fourth Champions League trophy in roller hockey, as noted by Público.
Outside the main auditorium, goalkeeper Diogo Costa spoke to Porto Canal about the team’s mindset heading into the resumption of league play. “We want to remain undefeated in the championship and continue to send a strong message to our rivals,” the 27-year-old goalkeeper said upon arriving at the blue-and-white carpet. He noted that the squad is focused on refocusing quickly after the international break ahead of an away fixture against Marítimo.
Contrasting Ambitions Across Football and Extended Disciplines
While the men’s senior football team sits atop the Liga Betclic standings as reigning champions, club leadership emphasized that past success does not guarantee future results. Villas-Boas noted that holding the title increases the daily workload rather than reducing it, pointing to early Supercup victories in football, basketball, and volleyball as benchmarks for the current campaign. Meanwhile, the club’s membership figures approach 190,000, a milestone that administration officials framed as a structural responsibility to stay connected with supporters.
The gala itself maintains a tradition established in 1986 under then-president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa. This year’s edition balanced commemoration of the club’s 133-year history with structural updates for its growing athletic departments, which recently added renewed handball under Carlos Martingo, along with expanding programs in futsal and adapted basketball.
FC Porto Announces New High-Performance Center in Porto
When and where did the Gala Dragões de Ouro take place? The 39th edition of the annual awards gala was held on October 7, 2026, returning to the Superbock Arena – Pavilhão Rosa Mota in Porto.
What major infrastructure project did FC Porto announce during the event? Club president André Villas-Boas announced that FC Porto received official licensing approval to begin construction on a new High-Performance Center in Vila Nova de Gaia for the senior and B football squads.
What upcoming fixture awaits the FC Porto senior football team? Following the international break, the league leaders travel to face Marítimo on Saturday at 18:00 local time.
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