18 May 2001 - Maybe If They Used Bits Of Real Panther, They'd Be More Successful

On 18 May 2001, 98-year-old Portuguese club Boavista F.C. defeated Desportivo das Aves 3-0 to claim their first SuperLiga title.

The club, founded in Porto on 1 August 1903, is nicknamed "As Panteras" (the Panthers) and "Os Axadrezados" (the Checkereds), after their black-and-white checked shirts. A minor team for most of its existence, Boavista joined Portugal's top flight in 1936. They became more successful in the mid-1970s under the leadership of manager José Maria Pedroto, who guided them to a second-place league finish in the 1975-76 season. They also won Portugal's cup competition, the Taça de Portugal, in 1975, 1976, and 1979.

After another fallow period in the 1980s, success returned to the club in the '90s, with cup trophies in 1992 and 1997, plus another second-place league finish in the 1998-99 season.

Boavista followed up their 2001 first-place finish with another second-place finish in 2001-02. They currently play in Portugal's second division, the Liga Vitalis, after being relegated in 2008.