It was the arrival as new coach of a young, bold and ambitious José Mourinho from União de Leiria that would bring a miraculous reversal of fortune for a FC Porto team that had been in the midst of a slump.

Promising players already at the club like Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, and Costinha were joined by new acquisitions such as Paulo Ferreira, Maniche, Derlei, and Nuno Valente, and quickly the new coach went to work crafting a formidable and determined side full of technique and tactical intelligence.

That team came together quicker than anyone might have anticipated and started the 2002-03 season in some style, a season that would eventually bring a domestic double and a landmark victory in the UEFA Cup.