Conceição and Villas-Boas: behind the scenes of their split | OneFootball

The controversial departure of Sérgio Conceição from the Dragons, after seven years and 11 trophies – among them three championships and four Portugal Cups -, is also a topic in the book. "The first tête-a-tête between Villas-Boas and Sérgio Conceição took place on April 30, 2024, at Olival, two days after the reception to Sporting for the championship. It was clear then that the club and the coach would have to go their separate ways, but they would talk again at the end of the season to decide how to finalize the divorce".

The meeting took place on May 30, at Villas-Boas' residence, and Sérgio Conceição "was already prepared for the break, but still wanted to test the club leader about the rumors of potential successors on the bench". Villas-Boas presented several scenarios and did not rule out that Vítor Bruno, Conceição's assistant, could be an option. Then, "Sérgio Conceição was in turmoil", especially because Vítor Bruno had already communicated his intention to pursue a career as a head coach and even had an offer from Qatar.

Outraged by what he considered a betrayal, Conceição shared the situation with his closest circle and the episode eventually reached the media. The cost-free termination, which he wanted, was at risk, because "Sérgio felt that he was being stabbed in the back" and could demand payment for the four years of contract that he still had left (extended with Pinto da Costa on the eve of the elections).

The book also recalls that it was not the first time that Vítor BrunoPinto da Costa when Sérgio Conceição, furious with the departure of Luis Diaz to Liverpool, threatened to pack his bags and leave. Worse: the former president even verbalized it to a not very small group of people, arguing that if it had gone well once (when, in 2011, Vítor Pereira took over from Villas-Boas), there was no reason for it not to happen again".

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.