Mamelodi Sundowns have announced the appointment of Miguel Cardoso as their new head coach, with Manqoba Mngqithi sacked.
Cardoso has been roped in to try and maximise the potential of the Sundowns squad, with Mngqithi failing to.
Mngqithi has since been replaced by Cardoso and upon announcing him Sundowns put out a statement.
Sundowns statement on Cardoso appointment
“Mamelodi Sundowns today announced the appointment of Miguel De Azevedo Cardoso as the new Head Coach of the Club with immediate effect. The introduction of the new Coaching Technical Team was necessitated by the recent unsatisfactory results despite the commitment of the Sundowns Board to give Manqoba Mngqithi and his Technical Team an opportunity to lead the Club going into the future. Coach Miguel was the Head Coach of Espérance Sportive de Tunis and reached the finals of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League. He joins Sundowns with three of his assistants namely, Fabio Fernandes, Pedro Azevedo and João Araújo.Coach Miguel, has coached in Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, and Ukraine at some of the biggest Clubs such as Porto, Braga, Deportivo La Coruna, Celta Vigo, AEK Athens, Nantes and Shaktar Donetsk. Coaches Steve Komphela and Kennedy Mweene, will remain as part of the Club’s new Technical Team.” Wrote the statement.
Educational background
Now some Sundowns fans may be asking, who is Cardoso. The mentor was born in Portugal and has coached both in Europe and the African continent. He holds a Physical Education and Sports degree, with a football specialisation. He also holds a Masters degree in Sports Science from the University of Porto.
Cardoso started his coaching career as far back as 1993, as an U-12 coach at S.C Espinho. He then moved on to join the FC Porto U12 coaching staff three years later. The he became the Porto B fitness coach in 1999, before taking charge of their U-15 side in 2003. He then left the Portuguese giants for Belenenses becoming the first team fitness coach. He then left with their first coach in 2006 to take up the same role at SC Braga.
Coaching history
A year later, Cardoso signed on to be assistant at Academica de Coimbra, Sporting CP and Deportivo la Coruna. The he would get his first opportunity as a manager at Shakhtar Donetsk’s U-21 in 2013. Cardoso graduated to first team assistant coach ahead of the 2016/17 season. He then left to become the head coach of Portuguese top flight side Rio Ave in 2017, winning Manager of the Month of August. He would then lead them to their best ever campaign in the Portuguese topflight, finishing fifth. They also qualified for the Uefa Europa League.
After leaving Rio Ave in 2018, it would start a nomadic period for Cardoso. He joined Nantes in the French Ligue 1 that year. The he was fired after just four months after picking up just six points in eight matches. He was then snapped up by Celta Virgo in La Liga. He was fired in March 2019 with the club just above the relegation zone.
Nomadic streak
Cardoso was then appointed as AEK Athens coach in 2019 May. He was dismissed after just four months. That led to his last job in Europe, a return to Rio Ave. After getting them relegated, his contract was informally terminated. That then saw him barred from the club’s training ground.
Last challenge before replacing Mngqithi
He was then appointed coach of Esperance, the Tunisian giants. He led them to the league title last season, before famously knocking Sundowns out to reach the CAF Champions League final. Cardoso’s men lost out to Al Ahly in the showpiece finale. He then parted ways with the side earlier this season after a slow start.
Sundowns fans are you impressed with the CV of your new coach Cardoso? Feel free to leave your thoughts and feelings in the comments below.
