Founded in 1939, they play their home matches at Estรกdio do Rio Ave FC, also known as the Estรกdio dos Arcos. Built in 1985, the current stadium seats approximately 5,300 people.
The club's home colours are green and white striped shirts. Meanwhile, the shorts and socks have historically alternated between green or white. Portuguese internationals Alfredo, Paulinho Santos, Quim, Rui Jorge and Fรกbio Coentrรฃo started their careers at the club. Goalkeepers Jan Oblak and Ederson are some famous talents that were part of this side.
The Vilacondenses' best top-tier league finish was fifth in the 1981โ82, 2017โ18 and 2019โ20 seasons. They reached the 1984 Taรงa de Portugal Final, where they lost to Porto 4โ1, and the 2014 Taรงa de Portugal Final, where they lost to Benfica 1โ0. With this result, Rio Ave qualified for the 2014โ15 UEFA Europa League, their first participation in a major European competition.
History
Rio Ave was founded in 1939, soon being nicknamed Rio Grande (Big River). The side had two of its best moments in the 1980s, under the management of Fรฉlix Mourinho, father of Josรฉ Mourinho: in 1981โ82, the club finished in a joint-best fifth place, and two years later it reached the Taรงa de Portugal final, losing to Porto 4โ1.
In 2013โ14, the club reached both cup finals under the management of Nuno Espรญrito Santo, but lost to treble-winners Benfica in both. This qualified them to their first European campaign, the 2014โ15 UEFA Europa League. New manager Pedro Martins led them past Swedish duo IFK Gรถteborg and IF Elfsborg to reach the group stage, where they came last.
Under Miguel Cardoso, Rio Ave came fifth in 2017โ18, equalling their best finish. Two years later, with Carlos Carvalhal in charge and Iranian Mehdi Taremi the league's joint top scorer, the club equalled this position with a new points record of 55. In October 2020, the team reached the Europa League playoffs but lost at home to A.C.
Milan, having conceded a penalty equaliser in the last minute of extra time and then losing 9โ8 on penalties. The season, under the returning Cardoso, ended with relegation after a 5โ0 aggregate defeat to F.C. Arouca in the playoffs.
After relegation, Rio Ave signed 35-year-old manager Luรญs Freire, who won promotion as champions in 2021โ22 and was rewarded with a new contract.
In 2023, Rio Ave's affiliated paying members (sรณcios) approved the creation of a SAD and the entry of an investor, the Greek Evangelos Marinakis, who had already invested in Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest.
