Jorge Manuel Rebelo Fernandes, known in the football world as Silas, has been appointed coach of Sporting Clube de Portugal, replacing interim manager Leonel Pontes.
Silas, 43 years old, whose first managerial position was as coach of Belenenses SAD last season, becomes the fifth different coach to take charge of the troubled Lisbon club’s first team in less than a year. He has been given a contract until the end of the season with an option for an additional year.
Asked whether a miracle was needed to turn around Sporting’s season after a disastrous start (five matches without a win, 8th in the table and defeats in their opening matches of the Europa League and Taça da Liga), Silas was peremptory in his response.
“I accepted this job because I believe in the players we have,” he replied confidently. “Miracles with this team and these players and the quality they have? No miracle is needed. If these players are at Sporting it’s because they have shown an extremely high level in the past. We will try to extract the best out of them. I honestly believe no miracles are needed. What’s needed is hard work and a little time.”
Ambition, risk, no fear
Talking about the style he and his assistants intend to implement, Silas said: “We are daring because we are ambitious. We believe in our abilities. We know how we want to play, which involves risks, but that’s what we believe in. We also know that our style of play will give pleasure to the players and the fans.
“But everybody has to believe. And everybody will believe, bit by bit. We have zero fear. To be at a club like this, you can’t have fear. We know we will run risks and we have to be prepared, but the players will enjoy it and will believe in it.”
Silas enjoyed a long career spanning two decades as a classy midfielder which included stints abroad in Spain, England, Cyprus and India. His best spell was at Belenenses, for whom he played over a hundred games.
Full circle
Curiously, it all started at Sporting, with Silas in the club’s youth ranks as a teenager. “In my career there were moments that left a big mark on me. One was when I was released by Sporting at 13 years of age. It was the biggest disappointment of my career, but it gave me the strength to become a professional footballer, which was my dream.”
The new manager begins his tenure with an away trip to bottom-of-the-table Aves on Monday evening, followed by a home match in the Europa League against Austrian outfit LASK three days later.
By Tom Kundert
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