Sporting manager Rui Borges departs ahead of Shakhtar clash
Following a poor start to the season, Sporting manager Rui Borges has terminated his contract and will not lead the team against Shakhtar in the Champions League.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 / Author: Agencia LUSA
Lisbon side Sporting will enter their upcoming Champions League match without their head coach. Portuguese manager Rui Borges has decided to terminate his contract with the club following a series of disappointing results at the start of the domestic campaign.
The previous season was challenging for the "Lions" under Borges: the team lost the league title to Porto, suffered defeat in the domestic cup final, and were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal. Although they managed to qualify for this season's European competition with a second-place finish, a ten-point deficit after ten league matches prompted urgent talks with the club's hierarchy.
Despite winning their most recent match 2-1 away against Casa Pia, the manager decided to end his tenure. Reports indicate that the club requested him to take charge for one final match — the 4th round Champions League fixture against Shakhtar — but he declined the offer.
Instead, Tiago Fernandes, the coach of the reserve team, will step in to lead Sporting in the match against the Ukrainian club. The game is scheduled to take place on November 3 at 19:45.