Sporting Lisbon sack Ruben Amorim’s replacement after just eight games

Sporting have appointed Rui Borges as head coach, after the Portuguese champions sacked Joao Pereira on Boxing Day. The new head coach has signed a contract until June 2026, with an option to extend a further year.

Pereira, who took over after Ruben Amorim’s departure to Manchester United in November, was in charge for eight matches, of which Sporting won just three, suffering successive Champions League defeats and falling to second in the Primeira Liga behind rivals Benfica.

Pereira’s replacement, Borges, takes charge at Sporting after they paid fellow Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes a €4.1 million settlement to secure the 43-year-old’s services.

Borges, who has coached a string of Portuguese clubs, took charge of Vitoria in May. He guided them to the knockout stages of the Conference League, where they finished the group stage as one of only two unbeaten clubs alongside England’s Chelsea.

“The time for me is right. It’s always right. I’m very positive, I believe things happen when they have to. It’s an opportunity we’ve all worked for,” Borges said at his unveiling. “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.”

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Sporting next host Benfica in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.