On the afternoon of the second day of the Thinking Football Summit (TFS), SC Braga’s remarkable growth over the past 20 years was a key focus during a conversation with António Salvador, President of SC Braga, and Rui Orlando, Director of Sport TV's Porto office.

Having recently secured a place in the UEFA Europa League group stage, Salvador reflected on the club’s financial successes and the new competition format.

“Being in European competition is crucial, especially in this new cycle. We qualified after six games, and thanks to the changes in UEFA’s competitive structure, we’ve already collected the second-highest revenue ever—€12 million—without even entering the regular phase. This new format benefits SC Braga, bringing more games and increased revenue. European competition is vital for the club’s stability. This year, we had to play three qualifiers, which was new for us, but missing out on Europe isn’t an option for any club with serious ambitions,” Salvador said, stressing the financial health that enables SC Braga to approach the season with confidence.

He highlighted the club’s increasing financial strength, particularly in recent years. “In the last five years, our revenue has grown significantly, which is crucial for SC Braga. It increases both the value of the club and the squad. Over the last 20 years, we’ve earned €580 million, with over €300 million coming from direct player sales. Without UEFA competitions, we wouldn’t have access to such significant funds. In the past 10 years, we’ve made almost €300 million, with €110 million from UEFA and €68 million from television. These revenue streams are fundamental to the club. In the last five years alone, we’ve earned €70 million from player sales and an additional €78 million from UEFA.”

Salvador also discussed the centralization of audiovisual rights, a hot topic in Portuguese football, and expressed SC Braga’s stance on the matter. “Television revenue is currently the lowest of our three main income streams. Centralization is a topic that needs serious discussion. I heard Frederico Varandas (President of Sporting CP) say he can’t afford a step back in terms of TV revenue, and I agree. But SC Braga needs to take a giant leap forward in this area. TV rights must improve significantly, but other revenue streams—such as sponsorships and ticketing—also need to be developed.”

Finally, Salvador, the longest-serving president of a Liga Portugal Betclic club, expressed his deep connection to SC Braga and the pride he takes in leading the “Guerreiros do Minho.”

“I became SC Braga’s president at 32, thinking I’d only serve for two years. I took the role because of my passion for the club, and now, almost 22 years later, I’m still here. I don’t know how many more years I’ll continue, but I have no regrets. I’m incredibly proud to represent this club,” he concluded.