Official! 8 years on, Varandas brings coach back to Sporting | OneFootball

It’s official. Tiago Fernandes is the new head coach of Sporting’s B team, replacing João Gião, on a contract valid until 2028. Happy to return to a place he knows well, the 44-year-old coach highlighted the importance of this new challenge at the Alvalade club, led by Frederico Varandas.

"It is a place that has always welcomed me well and where I did everything so that Sporting could always achieve its goals. I always put Sporting’s interests first, and that is our role as Club employees. I am very happy to return to a place I already know and to see again many people I worked with for eight seasons. There were more than 200 matches for Sporting, going through every level from the under-15s to the first team, except the B team. I come back with more experience, but willing to learn because football has evolved. There are many new things in youth development that I want to start understanding, and being back is a privilege, a pleasure and a source of pride," he told the media.

After several experiences in Portuguese football since leaving Alvalade, Tiago Fernandes believes he is returning better prepared: "I spent several seasons between the First and Second Leagues, also one with the under-23s, with the daily challenge of pushing ourselves every day and growing. At 44, I have practically 100 matches in the Second League and spent two consecutive seasons coaching, which is not easy. It gives me important experience to return to the environment of working with young players, which is something I like."

The coach also highlighted the progress he found at the Club compared to the reality he left behind in 2018. "A more organized Sporting, with a well-defined project. Those are the main foundations for us to succeed. We are looking for stability in the second tier to have a competitive season that allows us to fight for the three points on any ground while also helping the players develop better."

Tiago Fernandes also spoke about his father, Manuel Fernandes: "The day they called me for a meeting was June 5, my father’s birthday. It only really sank in when I woke up that morning. I am coming here in the week that marks two years since he passed away.

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