The new coach confirms his staff and talks about the challenge ahead

João Pereira is Sporting Clube de Portugal's new coach, taking on the first team role after success with the Under-23s and B teams. A former player for the club in three different spells, he is now ready for the prestigious position of leading the reigning Liga Portugal champions.

Accompanying him on his coaching staff will be his second-in-charge, Luís Neto (a former Sporting CP player), Tiago Ferreira (former player and goalkeeping coach for the first team for several years) and those who have accompanied him in recent years: Tiago Teixeira, José Caldeira and António Pina (assistants) and Hugo Tecelão (goalkeeping coach).

“It is a source of pride, a privilege and an honour to be presented here as coach of Sporting CP. I want to thank the president, plus Hugo Viana and the entire board for the trust placed in me to lead this project. I also want to thank Ruben Amorim for everything he did for Portuguese football, but especially for what he did and achieved at Sporting CP. Ruben leaves behind a legacy here, and the legacy was not just his achievements, victories and records: It was also the unity he managed to create within the Sportinguista family. I know that all of this gives me a great responsibility, but this responsibility comes hand-in-hand with great ambition and great motivation to continue making Sporting CP a winning club and a club of the future," he began saying at his presentation.

“I would like to tell you to continue supporting the team as you have been doing, because together we will always be closer to victory”.

Pereira then responded to journalists' questions, highlighting his ambition as coach and his desire to give Sporting CP more silverware.

“As a player, Sporting CP gave me a lot. They allowed me to get called up to the national team, move to one of the best leagues in the world and return home twice. I only won one Super Taça and one Liga Portugal title with them, which was more given than earned. It's a regret that I have, so as a coach I would like to earn more trophies; because Sporting CP deserve it."

“If I had doubts and thought it could go wrong, I wouldn’t be here. It doesn't cross my mind that it could go badly. I know that we are going to go through some difficulties, but I have it in my head that it will work out," he stated.

“I asked the president and Hugo Viana to give me Luís Neto as my assistant, for all the experience he has as a player. He will help us a lot, in many aspects and will be very important for the future of Sporting CP. I place a lot of trust in him, as well as in the rest of the coaching staff; those who were never players and those who started as coaches very early.”

“We are all prepared. This process was being readied for a long time. The preparation was not done this last week; it would be a mistake if that were the case. It has been done in recent years and I am confident in what I can bring to the club”.

Pereira made clear that his mentality is like that which he had as a player, saying “I hate losing, I love winning, I'm very competitive, I want my teams to be fierce and I'm a person who is much calmer than when he was a player."

“The biggest mistake I could make would be wanting to imitate someone. In four and a half years, Ruben developed a great relationship with everyone. Mine won't be the same right now, but it will evolve and cement itself. If we continue to win, you will certainly have the same confidence in me as you had in him.”