Sporting CP sacked head coach Joao Pereira after just eight matches in charge, replacing him with Rui Borges.
Pereira took over at Sporting on 11 November, signing a contract that runs until 2027 after Ruben Amorim left the club to join Manchester United.
Amorim led the club to a perfect start in the Primeira Liga, winning their first 11 games of the season, while they were also unbeaten in the Champions League under him, winning three and drawing one.
Pereira won his first game in charge of Sporting, beating Amarante FC 6–0 in the third round of Taka de Portugal, but has won just two matches since.
They suffered back-to-back Champions League defeats, as well as dropping to second in the Portuguese top-flight, one point behind Benfica at the Christmas break.
Welcome, Rui Borges! pic.twitter.com/YtLu1NxNJ5
— Sporting CP English (@SportingCP_en) December 26, 2024
Borges will now step into the role, leaving Vitoria Guimaraes after just seven months in charge.
The 43-year-old has won 18 of his 30 games (60%-win rate) and averages 1.53 points per game in the Primeira Liga (15 games).
During his tenure, he led Vitoria through an unbeaten Europa Conference League campaign (W4 D2) and finished second to Chelsea, one of only two teams to avoid defeat.
“The timing is right for me. It’s always right. I’m very positive, I believe that things happen when they happen. It’s an opportunity that we’ve all worked for,” Borges told reporters.
“I’m the leader of the Portuguese champions and I couldn’t be happier… I look at the squad, and it’s the best… It’s not even time to talk about signings.”
His first assignment will come against league leaders Benfica on Sunday.
