3. FC Porto
Readers of The Sun may recall a piece from a couple of weeks ago that said
Porto wanted Villas-Boas back. It would be a natural and understandable reaction if he were to return to coaching in his homeland, even if the British tabloids would add the cliché 'with his tail between his legs'. Paulo Fonesca, the current manager in the Estadio do Dragao dugout, has worked his way up to one of the big jobs in Portugal. Porto remain in the mix for a fourth straight top flight title but, as the halfway stage of the season nears, they know they are being pushed hard by a resurgent and old enemy. Sporting Lisbon have not won the Portuguese league since 2002, and nor in recent years have they looked likely to do so. Under Leonardo Jardim a manager only three years older than AVB they are finally emerging as challengers to Porto's domestic dominance. And Porto have been dominant. Nine titles in the last 11 years is compelling evidence of that. Lisbon's loan signing of Colombian forward Fredy Montero meanwhile has been a masterstroke. He has averaged a goal per game and could yet force his way into the World Cup squad. Villas-Boas could easily be brought back for a second stint at Porto should the champions lose any more ground on the capital club.