Francesco Farioli has finally tasted silverware. By leading FC Porto to their 31st league title, the 37-year-old Italian coach secured the first official trophy of his career. The triumph on Saturday night, when the Dragons confirmed their top spot in the Portuguese Liga, will forever mark the history of the Porto manager.
Although this is his first trophy, Farioli came close to glory last season while in charge of Ajax, contending for the Eredivisie title. Things started promisingly in Amsterdam, but the dream turned into a nightmare when the club squandered a nine-point lead with five matches remaining, losing the top spot to rivals PSV in the final stretch and finishing second.
In the 2023/24 season, Farioli also led Nice to the top of Ligue 1, only for the team to fade in the final part of the campaign and drop to fifth place, missing out on Champions League qualification.
In Porto, however, the outcome was different. Farioli overcame the ‘ghosts’ that could have haunted him from his recent past and guided FC Porto to a title that had eluded the club since 2022. This became the first major achievement in the young manager’s career, giving him a reason to celebrate at last.
Staff
Season 25/26 – Liga Portugal
Matches: 32
Wins: 27
Draws: 4
Losses: 1
