The lack of money could explain the lack of success of certain clubs in European competitions. If your club has a history but hasn’t won the Champion’s league in decades you probably will be hiding behind the lame excuse that it is because of budget. Chelsea, Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester or Milan are three or four times richer at least than your club, that’s why they win everything, that’s what we often hear.

Fc Porto wins the Europa league 2011

If it is commonsense that more money will bring you better players, better coaches and a better infrastructure, FC Porto contradicts this idea. The club won the C1 8 years ago and the Europa League in 2011. FC Porto did not spend more than Lyon or Newcastle for instance.

FC Porto has a long history that the players know and respect, they wear a jersey they can be proud of and they sweat for it. FC Porto has 119 years and won three European Cups in the last 25 years. Porto is a school of training , very reputable. Like for Barcelona or Manchester, secrets are well kept and training sessions of players and young professionals take place away from the public eye.

Porto is not rich and must succeed. TV rights do not weigh much. The sale of players, the first resource, enriches and keeps the club going.
The model is patented: find an unknown attacker or an exceptional defender, sign a contract with him for four years and then sell it to a wealthy institution when the football world has discovered the gem.

This summer, “the” Hulk joined St. Petersburg for 50 million. Real Madrid bought Pepe 30 million in 2007 in Porto, who had paid one million for him. Same for Falcao playing for Atletico Madrid today, after two years in Portugal (2009-2011). Porto recruiters target a player, detect potential, take the risk and rarely make mistakes.

An example to follow. Next time don’t complain about your club’s lack of finances because money ain’t everything in football…