FC Porto have appointed Nuno Espírito Santo as the club’s new head coach. The former Porto goalkeeper has signed a two-year contract and takes over from José Peseiro, whose brief tenure at the Estádio do Dragão terminated earlier this week.
“It’s a very emotional moment. It’s an enormous pleasure and honour to know that I am the person FC Porto entrusted to coach the team,” said the 42-year-old.
Nuno spent six years at Porto as a player, although he rarely played as he was the backup first to Vítor Baía, then to Helton.
He was the first client of Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes, and the relationship continued after his playing days, with Mendes brokering his first two managerial roles, at Rio Ave and then in La Liga at Valencia.
Volto a casa! #SomosPorto pic.twitter.com/DdKdnoLfjq
— Nuno (@Nuno) June 1, 2016
His first three seasons as a coach were highly successful, guiding Rio Ave into the Europa League and Valencia into the Champions League. He also reached both the Portuguese Cup final and the Portuguese League Cup final in 2013/14 at Rio Ave, earning him the chance to take over at Valencia.
After an excellent debut season in La Liga, Nuno failed to replicate the good results this past campaign, and amid unrest from the fans he resigned in November.
“This isn’t the moment to make promises, but rather to give guarantees. I follow my convictions and I have an absurd conviction that we will constantly win,” was Nuno’s original choice of words upon being unveiled at the Estádio do Dragão yesterday, alongside club president Pinto da Costa and vice-president Antero Henrique.
It is no coincidence that Costa and Henrqiue appeared side by side, in a show of unity amid rumours of a rift between the two major figures of Porto’s board.
The pressure will be on the club as a whole to produce immediate results after three trophyless seasons and a succession of failed coaching appointments in Paulo Fonseca, Julen Lopetegui and José Peseiro, but a confident Nuno accepts that is part of the package.
“Pressure is always present when you’re a coach, but being Porto coach is a tremendous motivation for me and for those who will be working with me. We’ll be working 24 hours a day to make sure we are a winning team.”
By Tom Kundert
