Boavista hail from Bessa in Porto and having to share the same city as FC Porto was always going to be a massive challenge. A challenge incidentally fellow Porto side Salgueiros found unbearable as they folded in 2005, which shows the reality of Portuguese football beyond the big three. Boavista however have been a mainstay in the top division for the bulk of their history having spent no fewer than 53 seasons in the top flight. They are in the top eight in the all-time table.
Prior to 2000-01 Boavista did mount a challenge to the title in 1998-99 when they pushed Porto until the final hurdle. They struggled to maintain the high standards the following season and finished 4th way off the title which went to Sporting. This just shows that Boavista came virtually out of nowhere to claim their first ever title the following season.
The season started quiet well for them with seven points from the opening three games. The were 3rd behind Sporting and ironically the above mentioned Salgueiros. By the October international break Boavista were 7th and four points off Porto, two off Sporting and ahead of Benfica, who were at this stage under the guidance of a certain José Mourinho, by four points. Over the next few weeks Porto would maintain a winning run that would see them open up a gap at the top of the table. Boavista meanwhile were winning, drawing, winning and drawing. So after 10 games the scene wasn't looking particularly promising for the Bessa club.
A lot of this Boavista team were new comers such as Bolivian Erwin Sánchez, key player Duda and former youth product Petit. Complimented by stalwards Ricardo in goal, Pedro Emanuel in defense and Brazilian Elpídio Silva up front. What is rather surprising about this Boavista team is that by the end of the season they didn't have a player in the top ten goalscorers list.
In the four games that followed Porto won a further three games but lost away to Sporting Braga which allowed Boavista to cut the gap to five points after winning three and drawing one in their four games. Sporting club de Portugal were level with them and Benfica appeared to be recovering from their shocking start so the signs were not looking favorable.
Then came a crucial matchday, round 15. The final matchday before the christmas break. Porto were away to União Leiria and Boavista had a local derby with Salgueiros. Boavista were 5-0 victors and crucially Porto were beaten 3-1. The gap was now down to two points.
It set-up a mouthwatering head-to-head with Porto in round 17. Both teams had won their games after the christmas break so this offered Boavista the chance to go top with a victory. The biggest local derby for some time and it was a tight contest. Boavista ended up with a narrow 1-0 win to go a point clear at the top after 17 games.
Further good news followed for Boavista. In the very next game Porto lost again this time to Benfica in the O clássico while Boavista followed up with a win over Beira-Mar. Porto hit a bad run of form and failed to win any of their following two games which saw them slip to 4th while a resurgent Benfica rose to 2nd. Boavista were five points clear of Benfica after twenty games.
A defeat to Braga cut that gap to two points as Porto got back to winning ways while Benfica maintained their excellent form.
Boavista kept hold of top spot over the next run of games. After round 25 Porto had played a game less than Boavista but were nine points off top spot. Sporting were 2nd and Benfica had fallen into bad form and fell to 5th.
April began with a draw out in Madeira with Marítimo which allowed Sporting and Porto to cut the gap. As April progressed Boavista were clinging onto that top spot. Porto had won their game in hand which meant they moved to four points off Boavista with six games left to play.
Round 29 saw both clubs win their games which set up an enthralling final five games to the finish line.
In the three rounds that followed both sides won their games. It mean Boavista were four points clear with two games to play. The title was in sight for the Bessa club in their round 33 game with Aves at home. Porto were away at Estrela Amadora. A Boavista victory would guarantee the title. In this round Porto were not playing till two days after Boavista so they were hoping for Boavista to choke. It never happened. Boavista ran out 3-0 winners and the at full-time the party could start. History was made. Boavista had seen it through and were champions for the first time ever. Manager Jaime Pacheco had done the impossible and claimed the title off Os Tres Grandes.
What happened next was Porto won in vain against Estrela Amadora and the final round of games saw Porto meet Boavista. Porto hammered a hungover Boavista side 4-0 and left the table reading like this.
Aftermath:
The league title was the height of the success under Jaime Pacheco. The following season Boavista would challenge again but lose out to a free-scoring Sporting side. Boavista's champions league campaign ended in the 2nd group phase.
2002-03 would be Pacheco's final season of success as he guided the team to a semi-final place in the UEFA cup losing narrowly to Celtic. Boavista finished 9th in the league.
Many players were sold in the following seasons with Petit moving onto Porto, Ricardo to Sporting, Sánchez retired and Duda went back to Brazil.
In many ways Pacheco's career after the title success mirrored Boavista's fortunes afterwards. Promised so much but ultimately went on a downward spiral. Boavista were demoted in 2008 which later turned out to be wrongly demoted and reinstated back into the top division in 2014. They finished 13th in their first season back and currently this season find themselves in the lower reaches of the table in 14th. Pacheco meanwhile was most recently coaching in Saudi-Arabia with Al-Shabab.
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