Key Takeaways
- Francesco Farioli wins his first trophy as a manager at the age of 37
- FC Porto claim their 31st Primeira Liga crown following a 1-0 victory against Alverca
- The Dragons finish nine points clear of Jose Mourinho’s Benfica with two matches remaining
Italian strategist Francesco Farioli has guided FC Porto to the Primeira Liga championship in his debut campaign at the Estádio do Dragão. The 37-year-old tactician secured the club’s first domestic league success in four years after his side earned a narrow 1-0 win over Alverca on Sunday evening.
The result proved decisive as it established an insurmountable nine-point advantage over second-placed Benfica, who were managed by Portuguese legend Jose Mourinho. The Lisbon giants could only manage a 2-2 stalemate against Famalicao earlier in the day, leaving them unable to catch the league leaders with just two fixtures left on the calendar.
This marks the 31st national championship in the history of the Porto-based outfit. The victory ends a sequence that saw their arch-rivals Benfica lift the trophy once, followed by Sporting CP claiming back-to-back titles.
Farioli’s journey to the summit of Portuguese football represents a remarkable rise through the coaching ranks. The former goalkeeping instructor previously served as Roberto De Zerbi’s deputy at Benevento and Sassuolo before taking charge of Turkish sides Fatih Karagumruk and Alanyaspor. He later managed French club OGC Nice and Dutch giants Ajax prior to his appointment at Porto in July 2025.
Across all competitions this term, the youthful manager has overseen 38 triumphs, eight draws and five defeats. His squad also progressed to the quarter-final stage of the Europa League. The triumph arrives just weeks after Farioli celebrated his 37th birthday, capping a remarkable first season in charge of the Dragons.