The former player takes charge of the first team in a move backed by club president Frederico Varandas

João Pereira has been appointed as new coach of Sporting Clube de Portugal, taking charge of the team with immediate effect, and he was officially presented on Monday afternoon.

The ceremony took place in the VIP Hall of the Estádio José Alvalade and was attended by the entire board of the club, sporting director Hugo Viana and the coaching staff who will accompany the coach in this new challenge.

Club president Frederico Varandas revealed that the decision to appoint Pereira as successor to Ruben Amorim had been made a long time ago, and stated that Sporting CP will have a coach with “competence and leadership”, which will allow the club to continue growing and winning.

“This presentation is taking place seven months earlier than planned, but the choice was a simple and natural one, which began around four years ago. I have known João Pereira for over 13 years. As clinical director, he was my player on three different occasions and always demonstrated leadership, character and an unusual understanding of the game for a player. These are all decisive theoretical characteristics for someone being a coach. One thing is a project and another is a reality, so João will have to prove he has this," continued Varandas.

"In 2021 we invited him to return as a player, to end his career here. We also proposed the challenge of a new career for him and he accepted. He started out as an assistant with the Under-23s, coache the Under-23s for two years and then moved up to the B team. He grew as a coach, put together and perfected his coaching staff and won over the entire structure of the Academy with his competence and leadership."

"Today we are here and I can say that I have the same feeling that I had in this room about five years ago. I said it at the time and today I feel the same: I have little doubt that João Pereira, in four or five years, will be at one of the most powerful clubs in Europe. He will encounter a fabulous group, a fabulous captain, a fabulous staff and a club that will protect him and allow him to grow as a coach. Sporting CP are getting a coach who will allow him to continue growing.”

He also highlighted the total trust he has in Pereira, praising him for accepting the role in the middle of the season.

“High risk is about deciding something you believe in. Almost five years ago we presented a coach with eight games in the I Liga and today we are presenting one with zero games, but I am very comfortable and calm about that."