André Villas-Boas showed himself, in the early hours of Saturday to Sunday, "very happy, proud and honored" by the victory in what were the most competitive elections in the history of FC Porto, in which he surpassed Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa and Nuno Lobo. The new president of the Dragons spoke of a "historic night", which culminated in "a resounding victory", but warned of the "long mission" that lies ahead, to build a club "strong, reinvigorated, with race", for which he asked "courage" to the thousands of members who placed their trust in him, but also to the others. The former coach also made a point of leaving a word of "gratitude" to his predecessor, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, "for all he gave", ensuring that, despite the differences between them, "this is and will always be his home".

André Villas-Boas' first speech as president of FC Porto:

I am very happy, proud and honored for this opportunity you give me. I hope to always meet your demands, the demands of all Porto fans, which is to win, conquer titles and sustain our club for the future, which is the most important. What a historic night, what a great pride to see the strength of our FC Porto. Our club is alive and has demonstrated its strength. Thank you very much for everything.

I launched this candidacy for our club and for you, for our members. Throughout the campaign, I received strength and confidence that brought us here. We have shown that it is possible to see FC Porto again with the pride we all have for it. We lived unique moments during this journey. So many people I lived with, from North to South, in the FC Porto Houses, here, at the campaign headquarters, in Lisbon, in the Algarve, in Switzerland, in Luxembourg, in the Azores and all over the world.

According to the news of the last hours, this could be, thanks to you, a resounding victory. That's why I dedicate this victory to all Porto fans, wherever they are. This victory is yours, from FC Porto members. This electoral act is a historic moment for FC Porto and for Portuguese football. I want to leave a word to the other candidacies, especially to that of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa. I want to express my gratitude for all he gave to FC Porto, for the life he gave to FC Porto and the guarantee that this is and will always be his home.

This is the FC Porto that we all want and need, strong, reinvigorated, with race. The real members, holders of their club, dictated their change today and face the challenges that lie ahead. We will need to maintain our courage to fight, on and off the pitch, to regain the place that is ours by destiny. We are one of the best clubs in the world, the bastion of the North region, we are FC Porto, the best club in Portugal.

I promise you that courage, and I ask you to have it too. We have a long mission ahead of us. Hard work, in a house that must be structured, tidy and organized. Let there be no doubt that, thanks to you, today, FC Porto is free again. Today is the day we start writing a new and victorious page in the life of FC Porto, an FC Porto for and by the members. An FC Porto that will be competitive, that leads by example. A winning FC Porto. A sense of responsibility falls on me and all this team that accompanies me. We know perfectly the path we want to follow and we are ready to respond with work to your demands, from all Porto fans.

Finally, allow me to thank the people who have always been with me on this journey. First, to my family, to my closest ones, to my parents, to my children, to my wife Joana. Thank you for the unconditional support at all times. Secondly, to my friends, to those who supported me without reservations in this new direction of FC Porto. In particular, to Bruno and António Lopes, two good friends who, in 2015, decided to create a wave of support called 'André Villas-Boas as president, now'. That's where this unstoppable movement began. Third, to my teams, to the candidates and heads of the list, António Tavares, Angelino Ferreira, Fernando Freire de Sousa, to José Pedro Pereira da Costa, who abdicated from a much more stable professional and personal position to embrace this FC Porto rescue project. To the different candidates who make up our lists for the social bodies, to my vice-president, to Andoni Zubizarreta, to Jorge Costa, to Mário Santos, to the Pedroto family, to João Borges, what an honor. Thank you very much.

An important word and my thanks to Carlos Gomes da Silva. If, today, we have a vision, a path and a strategy, in part, they are due to long hours of meeting and discussion with one of the best in the world in his field. To Pedro Rodrigues, who, superiorly, organized three of the most important events of this campaign, with overwhelming qualities. To Fernando Rodrigues Pereira, to Hugo Pinto and Diogo Pinheiro. To Duarte Lourenço, to Filipe Trindade, to Armandinho and to so many others who helped us. Thank you very much. Then, to the FC Porto houses, to the courageous FC Porto houses, the first ones that opened the doors, from North to South. Gradually, they got rid of the ties and welcomed me with open arms. To our incredible delegates and volunteers, who dedicated themselves, with heart and soul, to the celebration of Porto's democracy with the dignity and elevation that this candidacy and this historic night deserved. Thank you very much.

Finally, to the members, supporters and sympathizers of FC Porto who decided, today, on this change. Thank you very much to the 26,743 who, today, waited as long as necessary. Thank you very much. For the responsibility you give me, I promise to give my life for FC Porto. Dear friends, here we are, this is the time for union, a time for us to unite around FC Porto. I am confident in our future, but it will need all of you, your respect, your knowledge that, together, we are stronger. We will make history. You will make history, never doubt it. FC Porto is ours and it will be, of its members, of all of us. Long live FC Porto.

Read Also: Villas-Boas dethrones Pinto da Costa and is the new president of FC Porto (Portuguese version)