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 (18 January 1939)
GroundEstádio dos Arcos
Capacity5,250
OwnerEvangelos Marinakis
PresidentAlexandrina Cruz[1]
Head coachSotiris Silaidopoulos
LeaguePrimeira Liga
2024–25Primeira Liga, 11th of 18
Websiterioavefc.pt

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, and the 2014 Taça de Portugal Final, where they lost to Benfica 1–0.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] The season, under the returning Cardoso, ended with relegation after a 5–0 aggregate defeat to F.C. Arouca in the playoffs.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12][13]

European record

UEFA club competition record

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

UEFA coefficient

Further information: UEFA coefficient

Correct as of 21 May 2025.[14]

Rank Team Points
131 C.D. Santa Clara 12.453
132 F.C. Paços de Ferreira 12.453
133 Rio Ave F.C. 12.453
134 FC Astana 12.000
135 HNK Rijeka 12.000

Players

Current squad

As of 1 July 2025[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  POL Cezary Miszta
2 DF  ENG Jonathan Panzo
3 DF  GRE Andreas Ntoi (on loan from Olympiacos)
4 DF  ENG Nelson Abbey (on loan from Olympiacos)
6 MF  POR João Novais
7 FW  BRA André Luiz
9 FW  BRA Clayton
14 FW  ISR Karem Zoabi
15 FW  NGA Chukwudi Igbokwe
16 MF  CRC Brandon Aguilera
17 FW  GRE Marios Vrousai
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF  POR João Tomé
21 MF  POR João Graça
23 DF  ARG Francisco Petrasso
27 MF  ARG Tobías Medina
29 MF  GRE Theofanis Bakoulas (on loan from Olympiacos)
80 MF  GER Ole Pohlmann
99 GK  ALB Anxhelo Sina (on loan from Olympiacos)
— DF  GRE Nikos Athanasiou (on loan from Olympiacos)
— DF  CYP Georgios Okkas
— MF  GRE Antonis Papakanellos (on loan from Olympiacos)
— FW  NED Amine Rehmi

U23 squad

As of 1 July 2025[16]

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
89 GK  SRB Lazar Radojičić
— GK  POR Vasco Baptista
— GK  POR Pedro Virgínia
— DF  EGY Hassan Abouelmaati
93 DF  GEO Jorge Karseladze
— DF  POR Filipe Azevedo
— DF  BRA Caike
— DF  POR Martim Costa
— DF  FRA Julien Lomboto
— DF  POR Joaquim Marques
— DF  POR Diogo Morgado
— DF  POR Hélder Sá
— MF  POR António Costa
— MF  ALB Dijar Ferati
— MF  FRA Etienne Michut
— MF  BRA Hiago Bagarolo
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  POR Mariano Regal
— MF  POR Luís Silva
— MF  POR Pedro Silva
— MF  POR Pedro Teixeira
94 FW  POR Valentim Sousa
— FW  GUI Amadou Camara
— FW  POR Afonso Campos
— FW  VEN Junior Colina
— FW  BRA Eduardo Gualberto
— FW  POR Ferna Ferreira
— FW  ESP Quim Montenegro
— FW  BRA Samuel
— FW  GEO Saba Samushia
— FW  NGA Naziru Shuabiu
— FW  POR Alexandre Sousa

Club staff

Coaching staff

As of 4 July 2025[17]
Role Name
Head Coach Sotiris Silaidopoulos
Assistant coach Vaggelis Samios
Assistant coach Dimitris Gkoumas
Assistant coach Augusto Gama
Goalkeeping coach Spiros Christopoulos
Fitness coach Ilias Ampatzidis
Analyst Nuno Cardoso

Honours

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. ^ "Rio Ave beat Braga to reach final".
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "First-timers Rio Ave out to finish off IFK". UEFA. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Nantes hire coach Miguel Cardoso to replace Claudio Ranieri". ESPN FC. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ Cole, Richard (1 October 2020). "Europa League: Sporting humiliated, Rio Ave cruelly eliminated". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Sócios do Rio Ave aprovam SAD e entrada de investidor grego". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 19 November 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  13. ^ "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). 22 November 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Club coefficients". UEFA. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  15. ^ "Equipa Principal" (in Portuguese). Rio Ave FC. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Sub-23" (in Portuguese). Rio Ave FC. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  17. ^ "A equipa técnica de Sotiris Silaidopoulos" (in Portuguese). Rio Ave F.C. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
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