Casa Pia’s remarkable rise: The historic return to the Portuguese Primeira Liga after 83 years

Casa Pia Atlético Clube has returned to the Portuguese Primeira Liga after 83 years, driven by a transformation led by new leadership and a data-driven, collaborative approach to management.
The club’s revival was spearheaded by American investor Robert Platek and CEO Tiago Lopes, emphasising sustainability, financial prudence, and infrastructure development, including plans for a new stadium in Lisbon.
Why it matters: Casa Pia’s transformation underlines how fresh ownership and strategic reinvention can enable smaller clubs to thrive and punch above their weight.
The perspective: The club’s journey reflects the potential of well-executed turnarounds in modern football, offering lessons in sustainability and ambition for clubs in similar positions.

For decades, Casa Pia Atlético Clube was a name buried in the annals of Portuguese football history. Known for its roots in the Casa Pia de Lisboa institution and its strong social mission, the club had little to show on the pitch. That all changed in 2020 when a bold leadership team began reshaping its future.

Now, after 83 years away from the topflight, Casa Pia are thriving in its third consecutive Primeira Liga season, proving that

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