Rio Ave F.C.

"Rio Ave" redirects here. For the river, see Ave River.

Rio Ave
Full nameRio Ave Futebol Clube
Nickname(s)Vilacondenses
Rioavistas
Founded18 January 1939; 85 years ago (18 January 1939)
GroundEstádio dos Arcos
Capacity5,250
OwnerEvangelos Marinakis
PresidentAlexandrina Cruz[1]
Head coachLuís Freire
LeaguePrimeira Liga
2023–24Primeira Liga, 11th of 18
Websiterioavefc.pt
Current season

Rio Ave Futebol Clube, commonly known as Rio Ave ([ˈʁi.u ˈavɨ]), is a Portuguese professional football club based in Vila do Conde, that competes in the Primeira Liga. The club is named after the Ave River, which flows through the town and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Founded in 1939, they play their home matches at Estádio do Rio Ave, also known as the Estádio dos Arcos. Built in 1985, the current stadium seats approximately 12,815 people.

The club's home colours are green and white striped shirts. Meanwhile, the shorts and socks have historically alternated between green or white.[2] Portuguese internationals Alfredo, Paulinho Santos, Quim, Rui Jorge and Fábio Coentrão started their careers at the club. Goalkeepers Jan Oblak and Ederson are some famous talents that were part of this side.

The Vilacondenses' best top-tier league finish was fifth in the 1981–82, 2017–18 and 2019–20 seasons.[3] They reached the 1984 Taça de Portugal Final, where they lost to Porto 4–1,[4] and the 2014 Taça de Portugal Final, where they lost to Benfica 1–0.[5] With this result, Rio Ave qualified for the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League, their first participation in a major European competition.

History

Rio Ave was founded in 1939, soon being nicknamed Rio Grande (Big River). The side had two of its best moments in the 1980s, under the management of Félix Mourinho, father of José Mourinho: in 1981–82, the club finished in a joint-best fifth place, and two years later it reached the Taça de Portugal final, losing to Porto 4–1.[6]

In 2013–14, the club reached both cup finals under the management of Nuno Espírito Santo, but lost to treble-winners Benfica in both. This qualified them to their first European campaign, the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League.[7] New manager Pedro Martins led them past Swedish duo IFK Göteborg and IF Elfsborg to reach the group stage, where they came last.

Under Miguel Cardoso, Rio Ave came fifth in 2017–18, equalling their best finish.[8] Two years later, with Carlos Carvalhal in charge and Iranian Mehdi Taremi the league's joint top scorer, the club equalled this position with a new points record of 55.[9] In October 2020, the team reached the Europa League playoffs but lost at home to A.C. Milan, having conceded a penalty equaliser in the last minute of extra time and then losing 9–8 on penalties.[10] The season, under the returning Cardoso, ended with relegation after a 5–0 aggregate defeat to F.C. Arouca in the playoffs.[11]

After relegation, Rio Ave signed 35-year-old manager Luís Freire, who won promotion as champions in 2021–22 and was rewarded with a new contract.[12]

In 2023, Rio Ave's affiliated paying members (sócios) approved the creation of a SAD and the entry of an investor, the Greek Evangelos Marinakis, who had already invested in Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest.[13][14]

European record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 3Q Sweden IFK Göteborg 0–0 1–0 1–0
PO Sweden IF Elfsborg 1–0 1–2 2–2 (a)
Group J Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv 0–3 0–2 4th place
Romania Steaua București 2–2 1–2
Denmark Aalborg BK 2–0 0–1
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 3Q Czech Republic Slavia Prague 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
2018–19 UEFA Europa League 2Q Poland Jagiellonia Białystok 4–4 0–1 4–5
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 2Q Bosnia and Herzegovina Borac Banja Luka — 2–0 —
3Q Turkey Beşiktaş — 1–1 (4–2 p) —
PO Italy Milan 2–2 (8–9 p) — —
Notes
  • 3Q: Third qualifying round
  • PO: Play-off round
  • GS: Group stage

Players

Current squad

As of 23 August 2024[15]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Poland POL Cezary Miszta
2 DF England ENG Jonathan Panzo (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
4 DF Brazil BRA Patrick William
5 DF Cyprus CYP Georgios Okkas
6 MF Portugal POR João Novais
8 MF Portugal POR Vítor Gomes (captain)
9 FW Brazil BRA Clayton (on loan from Vasco da Gama)
10 MF Morocco MAR Amine Oudrhiri
11 FW Portugal POR Tiago Morais (on loan from Lille)
14 FW Israel ISR Karem Zoabi
15 FW Nigeria NGA Goodluck Igbokwe
16 MF Costa Rica CRC Brandon Aguilera
17 FW Greece GRE Marios Vrousai
18 GK Brazil BRA Jhonatan
19 FW Portugal POR Kiko Bondoso (on loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv)
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF Portugal POR João Tomé
21 MF Portugal POR João Graça
22 FW Egypt EGY Ahmed Hassan
23 DF Argentina ARG Francisco Petrasso
27 MF Argentina ARG Tobias Medina
33 DF Brazil BRA Aderllan Santos
34 MF Turkey TUR Ege Tıknaz (on loan from Beşiktaş)
42 DF Croatia CRO Renato Pantalon
43 DF Portugal POR João Muniz (on loan from Sporting B)
76 MF Portugal POR Martim Neto (on loan from Benfica)
77 FW Portugal POR Fábio Ronaldo
80 MF Germany GER Ole Pohlmann
98 DF England ENG Omar Richards (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
99 GK Albania ALB Anxhelo Sina (on loan from Olympiacos)

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Brazil BRA Sávio (at Remo)

Honours

Coaching staff

Position Staff
Manager Portugal Luís Freire
Assistant Manager Portugal Augusto Gama
First-Team Coach Portugal Vítor Vinha
First-Team Coach Serbia Nuno Silva
First-Team Coach Croatia João Ferreira
Rehab Coach Portugal Nuno André
Match Analyst Portugal Hermógenes
Match Analyst Portugal Roberto Tiago
Club Doctor Portugal Basil Ribeiro
Club Doctor Portugal André Dias
Physiotherapist Portugal José Teixeira
Physiotherapist Portugal Diogo Lopes
Physiotherapist Portugal Pedro Matos
Nutritionist Portugal Elton Gonçalves
Kit Manager Portugal Pedro Festas
Kit Manager Portugal Adelino Castro
Team Manager Portugal Gualter Pires

Coaching history

League and cup history

Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup League Cup Notes
1978–79 2DS 2 30 20 5 5 51 26 45 Round 4 Promoted
1979–80 1D 16 30 5 3 22 22 61 13 Round 4 Relegated
1980–81 2DS 1 30 16 10 4 43 17 42 Round 3 Promoted
1981–82 1D 5 30 13 8 9 26 31 34 Round 5
[A]
1982–83 1D 8 30 13 3 14 43 45 29 Round 3
1983–84 1D 9 30 11 7 12 35 35 29 Runner-up
[B]
1984–85 1D 13 30 7 9 14 27 43 23 Quarter-final Relegated
1985–86 2DN 1 30 19 11 0 52 19 49 Round 4 Promoted
1986–87 1D 13 30 8 9 13 33 40 25 Round 5
1987–88 1D 18 38 7 14 17 29 67 28 Round 6 Relegated
1988–89 2DS 4 34 16 9 9 51 30 41 Round 3
1989–90 2DS 10 34 10 11 13 44 47 31 Round 3
1990–91 2DS 4 38 23 10 5 79 21 56 Round 6 Promoted
1991–92 2H 4 34 16 7 11 47 30 39 Round 5
1992–93 2H 5 34 14 10 10 39 36 38 Round 5
1993–94 2H 4 34 18 8 8 43 23 44 Quarter-final
1994–95 2H 11 34 12 8 14 47 46 32 Round 6
1995–96 2H 1 34 21 5 8 58 42 68 Round 5 Promoted
1996–97 1D 15 34 8 11 15 35 42 35 Round 4
1997–98 1D 9 34 12 10 12 43 43 46 Round 5
1998–99 1D 14 34 8 11 15 26 47 35 Round 4
1999–00 1D 17 34 8 9 17 34 54 33 Semi-final Relegated
2000–01 2H 5 34 17 9 8 68 35 60 Round 6
2001–02 2H 8 34 12 10 12 45 36 46 Round 3
2002–03 2H 1 34 19 6 9 49 36 63 Round 5 Promoted
2003–04 1D 7 34 12 12 10 42 37 48 Quarter-final
2004–05 1D 8 34 10 17 7 35 35 47 Round 6
2005–06 1D 16 34 8 10 16 34 53 34 Round 5 Relegated
2006–07 2H 3 30 15 8 7 44 37 53 Round 4
2007–08 2H 2 30 13 12 5 38 26 51 Round 6 Round 1 Promoted
2008–09 1D 12 30 8 6 16 20 35 30 Round 3 Second Group Stage
2009–10 1D 12 30 6 13 11 22 33 31 Semi-final Second Group Stage
2010–11 1D 8 30 10 8 12 35 33 38 Quarter-final Round 1
2011–12 1D 14 30 7 7 16 33 42 28 Round 4 Second Group Stage
2012–13 1D 6 30 12 6 12 35 42 42 Round 4 Semi-final
2013–14 1D 11 30 8 8 14 21 35 32 Runner-up Runner-up Qualified Europa League [B] [C]
2014–15 1D 10 34 10 13 11 38 42 43 Semi-final Second Group Stage
2015–16 1D 6 34 14 8 12 44 44 50 Semi-final Second Group Stage Qualified Europa League
2016–17 1D 7 34 14 7 13 41 39 49 Round 3 Group Stage
2017–18 1D 5 34 15 6 13 40 42 51 Quarter-final Group Stage Qualified Europa League [A]
2018–19 1D 7 34 12 9 13 50 52 45 Round 5 Group Stage
2019–20 1D 5 34 15 10 9 48 36 55 Quarter-final Group Stage Qualified Europa League [A]
2020–21 1D 16 34 7 13 13 25 40 34 Round 5 DNP Relegated
^A Best league classification finish in the club's history.
^B Best cup run in the club's history.
^C Best league cup run in the club's history.

Div. = Division; 1D = Portuguese League; 2H = Liga de Honra; 2DS/2D = Portuguese Second Division

Pos. = Position; Pl = Match played; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lost; GS = Goal scored; GA = Goal against; P = Points

References

  1. ^ Alexandrina Cruz é a nova presidente do Rio Ave FC. rioavefc.pt.
  2. ^ "Colours of Football - Rio Ave FC". Colours of Football. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Rio Ave bate recorde de pontos na liga, Vitória já não chegará à Europa" [Rio Ave sets record for league points, Vitória will no longer reach Europe]. Tribuna Expresso (in Portuguese). 19 July 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  4. ^ "FC Porto 4–1 Rio Ave". ZeroZero. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Rio Ave beat Braga to reach final".
  6. ^ da Silva Campos, António (25 June 2017). "Felix [sic] Mourinho deixou-nos um legado eterno" [Félix Mourinho left us an eternal legacy] (in Portuguese). Rio Ave F.C. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  7. ^ "First-timers Rio Ave out to finish off IFK". UEFA. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Nantes hire coach Miguel Cardoso to replace Claudio Ranieri". ESPN FC. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Presidente do Rio Ave confirma saída do treinador Carlos Carvalhal" [President of Rio Ave confirms exit of manager Carlos Carvalhal]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  10. ^ Cole, Richard (1 October 2020). "Europa League: Sporting humiliated, Rio Ave cruelly eliminated". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  11. ^ Oludare, Shina (30 May 2021). "Ofori & Bukia's FC Arouca promoted to Primeira Liga after play-off triumph over Rio Ave". Goal. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  12. ^ Veloso Gomes, André (22 June 2022). "Oficial: Luís Freire renova pelo Rio Ave" [Official: Luís Freire renews with Rio Ave]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Sócios do Rio Ave aprovam SAD e entrada de investidor grego". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Evangelos Marinakis, o milionário de "bolsos fundos e pouca paciência" que ama barcos, escreve letras de canções e vai investir no Rio Ave". Tribuna Expresso (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Equipa Principal" (in Portuguese). Rio Ave FC.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rio Ave F.C..