Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has claimed that Ruben Amorim’s departure to Manchester United left the club in a difficult position, describing it as a “poisoned gift” for his successor, Joao Pereira.
Amorim, who led Sporting to the Portuguese league title earlier this year, departed in November to replace Erik ten Hag at United.
Despite Amorim’s request to finish the season with Sporting, United insisted on his immediate arrival, leaving the Portuguese side scrambling for a replacement.
Sporting promoted B-team coach Joao Pereira, but he has struggled to steady the ship, suffering four defeats in his first seven games in charge.
Speaking at the Stromp Awards gala, Varandas addressed the challenges caused by Amorim’s exit, acknowledging the difficulties Pereira has faced in adapting to the first team.
“2024 will be remembered as a year of immense success for Sporting, but also as a year where we became victims of our own success,” Varandas said.
“Ruben Amorim, one of the best coaches in our history, informed us at the end of last season that it was time to move on. We had planned for this transition, but not for it to happen midseason.”
Varandas outlined how Sporting had prepared for the end of Amorim’s tenure, expecting him to leave after securing a third championship in five years.
The club planned to overhaul the squad and bring in a new coach during the offseason. However, Amorim’s sudden departure disrupted those plans.
“When a major European club like Manchester United comes calling, it’s hard to say no,” Varandas admitted.
“But losing a coach of his caliber in November, in the middle of the season, was unprecedented in Portugal. We knew replacing him would be extremely challenging.”
The president explained why Sporting promoted Pereira instead of hiring an external candidate: “We could have brought in a coach from outside, but with seven games in 26 days, there was no time for training or implementing a new system.
Joao Pereira had to step in, inheriting a fine-tuned machine and adapting quickly, which is an incredibly difficult task.”
Varandas described the situation as the “most ungrateful invitation” a coach could receive. “This was not the timing the club wanted, nor what Joao Pereira wanted. But even knowing the risks, I did what I believed was best for Sporting,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Varandas remains optimistic about Sporting’s future, emphasizing the club’s strong foundation and the resilience of its players and staff. However, he acknowledged that Amorim’s midseason exit will be a challenge the club will not forget anytime soon.