Manuel Machado resigns from Braga

Laszlo Boloni lined up to take over next season

Sporting Braga coach Manuel Machado has announced his resignation as head coach of the club with immediate effect. The Portuguese tactician steps down with only three matches remaining in the season leaving the reins to interim coach Antonio Caldas.

The move does not come as a huge surprise as Machado has overseen the demise of the team’s hopes of capturing a European berth with three consecutive losses.

The former Nacional, Guimaraes and Academica boss joined the club in early November and amassed a record of 5 wins, 8 draws and 5 losses in league play. Machado took the club into the Round of 32 in the Uefa Cup, only to be bounced out of the competition by Werder Bremen on a 4-0 aggregate score.

The announcement was made through Braga’s official web site:
‘The Board of Sporting Club of Braga received and accepted the resignation of Manuel Machado. In his hour of departure we would like to profoundly thank, and recognise, the professional and humane qualities of Manuel Machado.’

Since Braga’s golden three-year golden era under the management of current FC Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira, great instability has befallen the club. Machado was the club’s fourth head coach in under two years.

At one point the Arsenalistas looked poised to threaten the Portuguese big three for honours, but they have since lost their way and are now languishing in mid-table.

Former Sporting coach Laszlo Boloni is expected to be appointed for next season. The Romanian led the Lions to the Portuguese Championship in 2001/02, and has been coaching in France since leaving the Lisbon club.