Rio Ave Futebol Clube was founded in 1939 in Vila do Conde, on the coast north of Porto, and takes its name from the River Ave that runs through the town. The club plays at the Estádio dos Arcos, opened in 1985 and holding around 5,300 spectators.

Rio Ave has never won the Portuguese championship but has been a persistent top-flight side, with fifth-place finishes in 1981-82, 2017-18 and 2019-20 among its best results. The club reached the Taça de Portugal final twice, in 1984 and 2014, losing on both occasions, and has won the second division four times. Its most memorable season came in 2013-14, when it reached both domestic cup finals and qualified for the UEFA Europa League. The club is now owned by Greek businessman Evangelos Marinakis and continues to compete in the Primeira Liga.