Mário Branco’s brother Américo named Sampdoria sporting director | OneFootball

Américo Branco, brother of Benfica sporting director Mário Branco, has been appointed sporting director of Sampdoria.

The club said in a statement that the 35-year-old has signed for two seasons, and that CEO Jesper Fredberg views the move as part of a wider sporting restructure that will include appointing a new head coach and pursuing an ambitious summer window.

Sampdoria, a Serie B side and former European Cup finalists in 1991/92, narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier this season.

Branco arrives from Fortuna Sittard, where he served as sporting director in recent years. The Dutch club finished 11th in the Eredivisie this season with 39 points.

Before his four-year spell in the Netherlands, he worked with Olhanense, Académica and Tondela.

Compatriot José Manuel Barbosa Alves, also 35, will become scouting coordinator. Branco is the third Portuguese to hold a sporting director role in Italian football, following Tiago Pinto at Roma and Carlos Freitas at Fiorentina.

Source: Glorioso 1904