“Thank you, President”: FC Porto and Dragão bid farewell to Pinto da Costa

The result was important, but defending the memory of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa was the first priority. In the event of a triumph, the game between FC Porto and V. Guimarães would have the potential to bring Porto closer to the top of the league, but more than that, it would be a return to Dragão after the death of the Porto president.

Porto fans felt the symbolic burden of this night and on a weekday, with kick-off scheduled for 8:15 pm, fans filled the stadium, in a final farewell to Pinto da Costa .

At the accessory stands next to the stadium, the increase in footfall was noticeable. A scarf with the face of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa and the 69 football titles he has won took pride of place. "I'm sure it'll be the best seller today," said the shopkeeper in charge of the stand, unable to contain his customers. When asked if he had ordered more than two thousand scarves for the sold-out game, a laugh filled with sarcasm followed. "That was a long time ago, my friend. Now it's more like 500," he added.

Exactly one week ago, Pinto da Costa's coffin was placed on the stadium's pitch for his final farewell. It was in the stadium that Pinto da Costa designed, built and named that more than ten thousand fans gave thanks for his achievements and joys. A huge banner outside the stadium with the president's face and the words "president of presidents" replaced the advertising banner reserved for Super Bock.

Outside the stadium, the Colectivo 95 fan club painted a mural of the leader. The idea, taken from one of the former president's legendary speeches, shows Pinto da Costa waving papers with an energetic expression. At the feet of the leader's image, dozens of wreaths and candles lit up the night that was slowly setting in. Despite the rain, Valdemar Freitas calmly took a photo of the mural in tribute to the former leader.

"He was the person who led us to success over the last 42 years . He was the one who hired the coaches and had a vision for the future, he made the right choices. It wasn't just luck, it was the result of a lot of work", says the fan. In his 60s, he closely followed Pinto da Costa's long reign at Dragão, admitting to being close to tears when he heard the news.

Inside the stadium, the night was full of strong emotions. The giant cloth showing Pinto da Costa with a crown and two golden dragons at his side, used to cover the viaduct next to the Dragão just minutes after the death of the former president was announced, was once again covering the area reserved for the fans.

In the central stand, FC Porto raised a banner showing the former director alongside his vast achievements spanning four decades. In the 42nd minute, the number that marks the number of years he has been president, a banner with Pinto da Costa's face was lowered back down to the Super Dragões stand. "A person only dies when the last person who loves them dies", could be read on small banners spread across the stand.

With each tribute, the Estádio do Dragão erupted in applause and cheers. The more than ten thousand scarves and paraphernalia left at the stadium have since been removed, with fans anxiously awaiting more information about the memorial promised by the current board, led by André Villas-Boas.