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| Tuesday, 07 June 2011 21:56 |
New Braga coach Leonardo Jardim to be unveiledNuno Andre Coelho signs four-year contract Leonardo Jardim will be presented to the press and fans at the AXA stadium tomorrow as the new Braga coach. Born in Venezuela to Portuguese parents but raised in Madeira, Jardim is to sign a three-year contract for the Arsenalistas.
Jardim resigned from Beira-Mar in mid season and has long been touted as the preferred choice of Braga president Antonio Salvador to take the reins of the team. The 36-year-old has achieved notable success in his managerial career to date, leading both Chaves and Beira-Mar to promotion in their respective leagues.
But Jardim has a tough act to follow. Previous Braga coach Domingos Paciencia led the Guerreiros to the runners-up spot in 2009/10, their highest ever league finish, and followed that up by guiding the northerners to their first ever European final this season, narrowly losing to FC Porto in the Europa Cup final.
Squad rebuilding continues apaceMeanwhile, on the playing side Braga continue to completely overhaul their squad, as has become habitual in recent transfer windows. Sporting centre-back Nuno Andre Coelho today signed a four-year contract at the club.
After starting the season with a bang at the Alvalade, the former FC Porto defender struggled for playing time in the second half of the campaign and has been deemed surplus to requirements by the Lisbon club.
Coelho moves in the opposite direction to Alberto Rodriguez, the Peruvian centre-back who made the switch from Braga to Sporting two weeks ago.
As well as changing their coach, Braga have now contracted six reinforcements for next season: Douglas (ex-Vitoria Guimaraes), Imorou (ex-Chateauroux), Djamal (ex-Beira-Mar), Rodrigo Galo and Jose Luis (ex Gil Vicente) and Nuno Andre Coelho.
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Braga won their opening game in the Regional cup, perhaps some props to them on this?
thanks
The club overhaul is nothing new, since they've done it last January nevermind in the summer. They have definately weakened G Vicente, which makes me a bit sad. I was hoping they would be able to reward their very loyal fans and stay up.
I would like Braga to continue its current winning ways, but a drop will most likely be in order. A lot will have to do with how Guimaraes can get its house in order.
I see them maintaining their place and making this a four team race.
Paciencia will take at least 2 years to contend.. and I see Braga still there and fighting.. so it looks great for the fans who like to see competitive games with the big dogs.
If Porto keep most of their squad then they will be highly formidable in the coming season, hopefully LFV's Russian Roulette produces a couple of talented players to make it more interesting.. but lets face facts with better players and even AVB taking a nap through the games they will out manage JJ and beat Benfica regularly.
Good-luck Braga in the coming season.. it seems as usual that Benfica has the weaker management of the bunch.. with more money to spend.