Braga swap coaches
This week it’s back to work for footballers up and down the country after their summer break as pre-season activities get underway.
As usual, a whirl of transfer activity has kept things interesting during the dearth of club football. PortuGOAL rounds up the major movers among the playing and coaching staff of Portugal’s biggest clubs.
Porto’s formidable midfield
Porto have been particularly active in the transfer market, this week adding highly rated French international Giannelli Imbula (for a whopping €20m fee from Marseille) and impressive Marítimo and Portugal midfielder Danilo to their squad.
Both newcomers have played as holding midfielders for most of their careers, and it is precisely in the middle of the park that Porto now find themselves with an embarrassment of riches.
As well as Imbula and Danilo, Porto’s squad includes Rúben Neves, Héctor Herrera, André André, Evandro, Carlos Eduardo and Quintero (although the latter two may be sold), not to mention Sérgio Oliveira who has been recalled from his loan period at Paços de Ferreira and who was magnificent at the U21 European Championship.
The exciting array of options goes someway to mitigating the loss of Porto’s three top performers of last season. Right-back Danilo has been sold to Real Madrid, while Jackson Martínez and Óliver Torres will also be playing their football in the Spanish capital next season, at Atlético.
Jorge Jesus ambitious at Sporting
On Wednesday evening 10,000 fans flocked to Sporting’s Alvalade stadium to welcome new coach Jorge Jesus, following his sensational move from champions Benfica.
“We have to wake up the sleeping Lion,” said an ambitious Jesus. “From now on there will be three contenders to win the title. Sporting are candidates to win every trophy in Portugal.”
The new manager will now assess the entire squad before deciding what areas need to the strengthened ahead of 2015/16.
Moroccan pair sign for Benfica
Benfica’s two main signings so far are Moroccan pair Adel Taraabt and Mehdi Carcela, both of whom are attacking midfielders who arrive with a big reputation.
The Eagles have also confirmed the captures of Ederson, Diego Lopes, Marçal, Dálcio, Pelé, Jhon Murillo and Francisco Vera. With the exception of ex Nacional left-back Marçal, who is certain to fight for a spot in the first team with Eliseu, new coach Rui Vitória will run the rule over the other new faces before deciding whether or not to integrate them into the first-team squad, the B-team or to sanction loans.
New man in the dugout at Braga
Braga president António Salvador has done a terrific job during his decade at the helm of the club, but is fearsomely demanding with his coaches, rarely sticking with the same man in the dugout for more than a season.
Sérgio Conceição led the Arsenalistas to a 4th-palce finish and to within a whisker of winning the Portuguese Cup, but a subsequent fall-out with Salvador resulted in the former Portugal international leaving the club.
Paulo Fonseca was yesterday appointed as his successor on a two-year contract.
