Boavista

Boavista are Portuguese football's great iconoclasts, a black and white chequered club from Porto who smashed the Big Three stranglehold on the Primeira Liga by winning their one and only national title in 2000-01, the only time the championship has left the hands of Benfica, Porto, or Sporting CP. Founded in 1903 by British entrepreneurs and Portuguese textile workers, Os Axadrezados have built a loyal following in Porto's western districts and their distinctive chequered shirt makes them one of the most visually striking clubs in European football.

Founded on 1 August 1903, Boavista compete in the Primeira Liga, Portugal's top division. Their home is the Estadio do Bessa in Porto, revamped for use during UEFA Euro 2004. Key honours include 1 Primeira Liga title (2000-01), 5 Taca de Portugal wins, and 3 Portuguese Super Cups.

Boavista's black and white chequered home shirt is one of European football's most distinctive garments, immediately identifiable wherever it appears. The chequered pattern was adopted in 1933, inspired by a French club the then-president had watched, and it has been the defining visual identity ever since. When the Axadrezados lifted the Primeira Liga title in 2001 against all expectations, the sight of the chequered shirts celebrating in Porto was one of the decade's most unlikely and joyful football images. The pattern has been refined across many manufacturers and eras, but the black and white check remains constant.