Paulo Fonseca was presented as the new manager of Sporting Clube de Portugal at the club’s Alvalade stadium in Lisbon this evening.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas explained that he had wanted to appoint Fonseca as the head coach of the Lions for some time, having kept up communication with him over the past year.
“I can confide that we have exchanged ideas and we have a certain connection in our way of being and seeing things,” said the Sporting supremo. “It was a dream of mine to work with Paulo Fonseca.”
Fonseca takes over from Rui Borges, who was relieved of his duties on Sunday evening by Varandas, although the president explained he had made the decision the previous week, after the two home defeats against LASK Linz and Académico de Viseu.
Both Varandas and Fonseca praised Borges for the work he did in almost two years at Sporting. “Rui Borges and his coaching staff were not mediocre. They were not satisfactory. They were not good. They were very good. Rui Borges will go down in history as the man who delivered the first back-to-back championship in 70 years and the man who won the club its first double in 23 years,” said Varandas.
Prepared for the challenge
Varandas then left the stage clear for Fonseca to explain his decision to leave Lyon for Sporting and to answer questions from the assembled media.
The 53-year-old began by recalling how he was a Sporting fanatic as a child, citing several club legends from the 1980s and early 90s such as Jordão, Manuel Fernandes and Balakov. “My dream has become reality. I’m at the club I love.”
Fonseca emphasised he believes he is a more complete manager than when he left Portugal to embark on a successful career abroad ten years ago.
“I feel prepared to take on the demands of a club like Sporting. Naturally people in Portugal will remember me from my time coaching here. I went abroad with the clear ambition of progressing and evolving. I had a lot of offers to go to the Middle East, to Brazil, but my goal was to stay in the top five European leagues to prepare myself for this moment.
“Today people in Portugal don’t know Paulo Fonseca mark II; they know the Paulo Fonseca from ten years ago in Portugal. I can assure you that the Paulo Fonseca of today is different, and I believe for the better, than the one who left Portugal, because of the experience I have acquired.”
“Quality squad”
As for the squad he has inherited, Fonseca was effusive about the quality of players at his disposal.
“One of the aspects that motivated me to accept this offer was the quality of this young squad. I think we have a brilliant future ahead of us.
“And if I thought that before I arrived, after taking my first training session today, I’m even more enthusiastic given how the players responded. This change [squad overhaul] has not been easy, but time will show that the right choices have been made.”
Fonseca’s first game in charge is the Liga Portugal fixture at home against Moreirense on Saturday evening.
