FC Porto 2003/04 Home Jersey

Some shirts become iconic because of the players who wore them. Others become inseparable from a moment that changed a club's place in football history.

The FC Porto 2003/04 Home Jersey is one of those shirts.

With its classic blue-and-white vertical stripes, Nike detailing, traditional FC Porto crest and Revigrés sponsor, this jersey represents the beginning of one of the greatest European underdog stories of the modern era. It was worn by a Porto side led by a young José Mourinho, with Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Costa, Paulo Ferreira, Maniche, Costinha, Derlei and Vítor Baía at the heart of the team.

The Story Behind the Shirt

Just one year earlier, Mourinho had already announced himself to Europe.

Porto had won the 2003 UEFA Cup, and the following season the challenge became even greater: could a Portuguese club go all the way in Europe's biggest competition?

The answer would be yes.

Porto progressed through the Champions League group stage before facing Manchester United in the Round of 16. After winning the first leg 2–1 in Porto, Mourinho's side found themselves behind at Old Trafford and heading toward elimination.

Then, in the final moments, Costinha scored.

Mourinho sprinted down the touchline in celebration, arms raised in one of the defining images of the campaign. Porto advanced 3–2 on aggregate.

The quarter-finals brought Lyon. Porto went through.

The semi-finals brought Deportivo La Coruña, whose defensive organization had already stunned Europe by eliminating AC Milan. Porto won the tie 1–0 on aggregate, with Derlei's penalty deciding the second leg.

And then, on 26 May 2004, Porto arrived at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen for the Champions League final against AS Monaco.

The underdogs were now one match away from European immortality.

Carlos Alberto opened the scoring before half-time.

In the second half, Deco doubled the advantage.

Four minutes later, Dmitri Alenichev made it 3–0.

Porto were European champions.

It was the club's second European Cup/Champions League title, 17 years after their first triumph in 1987. Porto had also become only the second team to win the UEFA Cup and European Cup/Champions League in successive seasons.

For Mourinho, it was the perfect ending to his time in Porto. He left for Chelsea shortly afterward, taking Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho with him, while Deco moved to Barcelona.

And that is why this shirt means so much.

It represents the moment FC Porto stopped being the surprise of Europe and became European champions.

The design is equally memorable: traditional blue-and-white stripes, a solid blue lower section, white sleeves with blue accents and the classic Nike aesthetic of the early 2000s. The version pictured carries the Revigrés branding associated with Porto's European campaign.

This is the shirt of Deco's brilliance, Mourinho's touchline celebrations and Porto's greatest European night since 1987.

Product Features

• Season: 2003/04
• Club: FC Porto
• Edition: Home Jersey – Vintage
• Manufacturer: Nike
• Colors: Royal blue and white
• Sponsor: Revigrés
• Design: Classic blue-and-white vertical stripes
• Lower section: Solid blue panel
• Collar: White collar with dark detailing
• Crest: Classic FC Porto crest
• Manager: José Mourinho
• Key players: Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Costa, Paulo Ferreira, Maniche, Costinha, Derlei and Vítor Baía
• Historic achievement: UEFA Champions League winners
• Final: FC Porto 3–0 AS Monaco
• Final venue: Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen
• Goals: Carlos Alberto, Deco and Dmitri Alenichev
• European title: FC Porto's second European Cup/Champions League
• Historic achievement: UEFA Cup and Champions League in consecutive seasons
• Perfect for: Match days, casual wear, collectors and supporters of classic FC Porto football

The shirt of Mourinho's masterpiece.

Gelsenkirchen, 2004 — Dragões, Campeões da Europa.