Tribute to Mónica Jorge – The Mother of the Portuguese Dream

 

Tribute to Mónica Jorge – The Mother of the Portuguese Dream

In 2010, Portugal were far from being outsiders.
They were still underdogs among underdogs, placed in Group C of the Algarve Cup – the group for smaller nations hoping to grow. Finishing first or second didn’t get you a medal. It got you the chance to play a big team. A reward. A dream.

In Hotel Montechoro, I stayed with the Norwegian and Portuguese teams.
Norway were still a giant. Portugal hadn’t begun to climb yet.

But there was one person who already believed. Who already saw it.
She was the head coach then. Now, she’s the technical director and a UEFA committee member.
Her name: Mónica Jorge.

She called her team The Big Family.
They weren’t stars. They weren’t famous.
But they had fire in their hearts.
And she gave them belief.

One night, in the hotel bar, the players gathered to watch Porto – Benfica.
The match was intense. But suddenly, laughter broke out. A pillow fight erupted. In the middle of the bar.
The poor bartender started praying for his glasses – and by some miracle, they survived.
Because this team wasn’t chaos. This team was joy.

Mónica Jorge built more than a team – she built a movement.
She helped shape a stronger league, pushed the big clubs to take their responsibility.
Today, Benfica and Sporting compete in the UWCL.
Portugal has made it to Euros and World Cups – and they’re not just showing up anymore. They are competing.

So let her host the EURO 2029. Let her stand on the main stage, tears in her eyes, as Kika Nazareth lifts the trophy.
Because without Mónica Jorge, this fairytale would never have existed.

She is not a footnote in Portuguese women’s football.
She is the prologue.
She is the foundation.

Thank you, Mónica.
For your belief.
For the family.
For the future.