Struggling Tondela swap coaches: Ivo Vieira out; Cristiano Bacci in | OneFootball

Cristiano Bacci jumped at the chance to return to Portuguese football (Photo: www.cdtondela.pt)

International breaks are traditionally hazardous times for managers of struggling football teams, and so it proved for Ivo Vieira at Tondela. The experienced manager was sacked and replaced by Italian Cristiano Bacci, who returns to Portuguese football after spells at Boavista and Moreirense.

Madeira-born Vieira began his coaching career in promising fashion at both of the island’s two major clubs, Nacional and Marítimo, and went on to manage a host of clubs in Portugal (9 in total) as well as spells abroad in Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Turkey.

The 49-year-old took over at newly promoted Tondela this season, but has been let go after earning just two victories and six points in the first 11 games of the 2025/26 Primeira Liga season.

The team from central Portugal did not waste time in appointing his replacement. Bacci was managing Greek outfit Panserraikos when he got the call from the Portuguese club, and immediately rescinded his contract to return to a country he knows well.

“Tondela is a historical club,” said Bacci. “I played against them when they were in the second division, I know players who have been here and talked to me about the soul of the club and the city and that’s why I was extremely happy to receive and accept this offer.”

Tondela are currently in the relegation zone in 17th place in the standings, but are only three points from safety, behind Arouca and Casa Pia, the latter having also sacked their coach João Pereira recently.