Viana exits Sporting Lisbon early ahead of Manchester City move
Written by
Training Ground Guru
February 4, 2025
Sporting Director Hugo Viana has been allowed to leave Sporting Lisbon early ahead of his impending move to Manchester City.
The former Portugal international will be taking over from Director of Football Txiki Begiristain at City at the end of July’s Club World Cup. He had been due to leave Sporting at the end of the season, but the Portuguese club have now agreed to bring his departure date forward.
In a statement, they said: “Sporting Clube de Portugal informs that Hugo Viana requested his departure from the club to be brought forward, initially scheduled for the end of the current sporting season. Sporting Clube de Portugal further informs 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.
“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.”
President Frederico Varandas added: “Hugo 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.”
Viana, 42, took over at Sporting in August 2018 and the club are six points clear at the top of Portugal’s Primeira Liga, having won the title under Ruben Amorim last season.
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