Leonino exclusive, Varandas rethinks Sporting future after dismal finish | OneFootball

João Gião’s renewal has suffered a setback, Leonino has learned. Sporting’s management has chosen to review the process and now has a meeting scheduled to discuss the future of the B team coach, due to poor results in the second half of the season.

According to what our newspaper has learned, in a Leonino Exclusive, the structure led by Frederico Varandas still believes in the coach’s abilities and, until very recently, intended to show that with a new contract. However, the work shown in the final stretch of the season calls for greater reflection.

The truth is that a total ‘overhaul’ is planned in the coaching staff of Sporting’s academy sides and João Gião was seen as one of the exceptions in Alcochete. In addition to the work done with the ‘Bs’, the run by the Lions’ under-19 team in the UEFA Youth League is valued by the club’s leadership, which has still not completely ruled out a renewal.

From a sporting point of view, participation in the 2025/26 Segunda Liga was not the best. Sporting’s reserve side finished the season in 13th place in the table, collecting 42 points in 34 matches, in which they managed 13 wins, three draws and 18 defeats. Their goal difference stands at 41 scored and 34 conceded.

He arrived at Sporting at the end of March 2020, after João Pereira left for Turkish side Alanyaspor. Since then, the coach — who worked in Benfica’s academy and was assistant coach at clubs such as Sacavenense, Pinhalnovense, Melaka United, Académica, Grasshoppers, Lausanne-Sport and Paços de Ferreira — between the juniors and the B team, has led 51 matches, winning 23, drawing eight and losing 20.

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