Varandas announces Sporting re-election bid, takes swipe at Mourinho | OneFootball

Frederico Varandas won the fourth Stromp Award this Monday, December 15th, in the category of Leader of the Year. After expressing gratitude, compliments, and ambitions regarding ongoing projects, he announced that he will run again for the position he has held at Sporting since 2018 in the next elections, scheduled for March 2026.

The top leader of the lions also seemed to direct a veiled comment at José Mourinho, coach of Benfica, who recently stated, regarding an alleged penalty on Vangelis Pavlidis in the Moreirense - Benfica match, that "there are others who cry, scream, and pressure," referring to the rivals.

"This is the fourth award I receive as a leader, in this mission we started in 2018, but this might be the one that brings more peace at home, as it equals the four my wife has. But unlike her awards - in an individual and solitary sport -, this award is the result of the people I have by my side. They are the reason I am here," he highlighted.

The President of the Alvalade Club made the night's revelation: "We consider ourselves halfway through our mission and from the school I come from, you never leave a mission halfway. I want to announce here that we will run again in the March 2026 elections," leaving a jab at the eagles' helmsman.

"I come from a house where hierarchy is very important, I wanted to thank people you don't know, but who have given a lot, our collaborators; to whom we demand a lot and who make Sporting live, today, one of the best periods in its history. They don't appear, but they are in the transformation of our Club. From a house where there is no crying, no lamenting, where we strive to be better every day," he said.

The leader reviewed the season: "I represent my team after a fantastic, wonderful year. I see our captain and only see the quality of our handball. Our volleyball coach and I think: what quality that championship had; Nolito and that World title... Also a word to those who didn't win but were in the finals, where we should always be. Today we have a Sporting that either wins or loses with dignity in the finals. It is this Sporting we are so proud of," added Varandas, then speaking particularly about football.

"Historic back-to-back championship, double... And how sweet it was... A year ago we were national champions and many people doubted we would be back-to-back champions. I said it here, that our group would give everything to be back-to-back, fight to be back-to-back. Against all odds, they were champions, back-to-back champions; today we have two strong rivals, it's true, but it's also true that that group... There isn't a person who doesn't believe they will fight for the treble. If there's one thing I feel, because I live close to them... How proud I am of my, of our coach. Always with head held high. One falls, another comes. If there's none, call a youngster. How proud I am of our captain. If there's one thing we know how to do, it's fight and no one does it better than them. They show up and will fight to the end. And they will fight with everything until the last second. It's not against everything or anyone. It's just for Sporting to be three-time champions," emphasized the top leader of the lions.

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