Did you know that Rio Ave is more than just a name? It is a Portuguese professional football club with a rich history. Rio Ave is based in Vila do Conde. The club competes in the Primeira Liga.
The name Rio Ave comes from the Ave River. This river flows through the town. It eventually meets the Atlantic Ocean. The club was founded in 1939. They are known by nicknames like Vilacondenses and Rioavistas.
Rio Ave plays its home matches at Estádio dos Arcos. This stadium is also known as Estádio do Rio Ave. It was built in 1985. The stadium can hold approximately 12815 people.
The club’s colors are green and white striped shirts. The shorts and socks have changed between green and white. Several Portuguese internationals began their careers here. Alfredo, Paulinho Santos and Quim are some examples. Goalkeepers Jan Oblak and Ederson also played for Rio Ave.
Rio Ave’s best league finish was fifth. This happened in the 1981–82, 2017–18 and 2019–20 seasons. The club reached the Taça de Portugal Final in 1984. They lost to Porto. They also reached the final in 2014. They lost to Benfica. Despite the loss Rio Ave qualified for the UEFA Europa League in 2014–15. This marked their first major European competition.
Félix Mourinho coached Rio Ave in the 1980s. He is the father of José Mourinho. In 2013–14 Rio Ave reached both cup finals under Nuno Espírito Santo. They lost both to Benfica. Pedro Martins led the team past IFK Göteborg and IF Elfsborg in the Europa League. They reached the group stage.
Miguel Cardoso helped Rio Ave equal their best finish in 2017–18. Carlos Carvalhal also achieved this in 2019–20. In October 2020 the team lost to A.C. Milan in the Europa League playoffs. In 2021 Rio Ave was relegated.
Luís Freire became manager. He led them to promotion in 2021–22. In 2023 Rio Ave approved the entry of Evangelos Marinakis as an investor. He has also invested in Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest.
The Estádio dos Arcos has been their home since 1984. It has seen many upgrades. In 2017 a new East Stand was built. Improvements were made to the West Stand. The stadium is near the Vila do Conde metro station. It is on the red line B of Porto’s metro network.
The club shop sells green-and-white merchandise. Replica shirts and tracksuits are available. There is no bar at the stadium. But MC caffé nearby serves as a pre-match spot.
Rio Ave has a dedicated fan base. They have a rich history. They continue to compete in Portuguese football.