Hugo Viana’s Departure from Sporting CP: A New Chapter at Manchester City
In a surprising turn of events, Hugo Viana has decided to leave his position as the sporting director of Sporting CP earlier than expected. The Portuguese club made the announcement on Tuesday, catching many fans and analysts off guard. Viana, who is set to replace the outgoing Txiki Begiristain as Manchester City‘s director of football, was initially scheduled to depart at the end of the season.
According to a statement from the club, “Sporting CP informs that Hugo Viana requested that his departure from the Club be brought forward, initially scheduled for the end of the current sporting season.” The club further explained that, “Taking into account the arguments presented and by mutual understanding, the sporting director of Sporting CP ceased his duties after the closure of the winter market.”
Viana, who is 42 years old, has had an illustrious career both on and off the field. As a player, he spent time at Sporting, Newcastle United, and Valencia, and earned 29 caps for Portugal between 2001 and 2012. His transition to a director role at Sporting in 2018 marked the beginning of a successful tenure, during which he helped the club secure the Portuguese title in both 2021 and 2024, despite fierce competition from Benfica and FC Porto.
One of Viana’s most notable achievements was bringing in now-Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim as manager in 2020. Amorim played a pivotal role in restoring Sporting to the pinnacle of Portuguese football. The club’s statement highlighted Viana’s contributions, stating, “Hugo Viana played a fundamental role in the club’s sporting growth during a period in which Sporting CP’s main football team won several titles: two National Championships, three League Cups, a Super Cup, and a Portuguese Cup.”
Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas also praised Viana’s work, saying, “Viana’s work over these years was fundamental to the implementation of a solid and winning sporting project. He played a crucial role in building a team that broke barriers and marked one of the most memorable phases in the recent history of our Club.”
As Viana departs, Bernardo Palmeiro is set to take over as the new general director of football at Sporting. Meanwhile, Manchester City has been making waves in the transfer market. Pep Guardiola’s side had a busy January transfer window, spending £180 million ($225m) in an effort to rejuvenate their season after a lackluster first half.
- City acquired Eintracht Frankfurt‘s Omar Marmoush in a £59m transfer.
- They also signed Palmeiras’ Vitor Reis for £29.6m.
- Additionally, Lens‘ Abdukodir Khusanov was brought in for £33.6m.
- Before the transfer deadline, City secured FC Porto’s Nico Gonzalez by paying £50m, matching the player’s release clause.
With Viana’s expertise and City’s recent acquisitions, fans are eager to see how these changes will impact the club’s performance in the coming months. The football world will be watching closely as Viana embarks on this new chapter at Manchester City.
Originally Written by: Adriana Garcia
