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Luís Neto is set to leave Sporting CP as the club finalizes a significant restructuring of its technical staff under new head coach Paulo Fonseca. The transition, confirmed in a document sent to the Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (CMVM) on Wednesday, marks the end of the former central defender’s tenure on the coaching bench, as reported by A Bola.
Neto, who transitioned to a coaching role in December 2024 when Rui Borges took charge of the main squad, was notably absent during the official presentation of Fonseca.
Paulo Fonseca officially takes charge through 2030
The administrative filing confirmed that Paulo Fonseca has signed a contract with Sporting CP running until June 2030. The club paid a €5 million release fee to Lyon to secure the manager’s services. Fonseca’s arrival coincides with the departure of Rui Borges, whose nearly two-year stint at Alvalade was lauded by club president Frederico Varandas as a period of significant achievement, including a championship title and a strong run in the UEFA Champions League.
The new technical team, as outlined in the CMVM disclosure, includes Paulo Mourão, Nélson Duarte, António Ferreira, Paulo Ferreira, and Rui Faria. Gonçalo Álvaro was also present at the presentation, signaling his inclusion in the new operational structure.
Reassignment of previous technical staff
While Neto faces an exit, other members of Rui Borges’s former team are moving to different roles within the organization. A Bola reported that Tiago Ferreira and Hugo Tecelão, both goalkeeping coaches, are moving to the Sporting B team. They will join the squad currently managed by Tiago Fernandes, who previously served as the interim head coach during the club’s UEFA Champions League fixture against Shakhtar.
A long-standing connection to Alvalade
Luís Neto’s exit concludes a long association with the club that began in 2019. As a player, the central defender was a key figure at Sporting CP between the 2019/20 and 2023/24 seasons. During his time on the pitch, he contributed to two league championships, a Taça da Liga, and a Supertaça. Since December 2024, he had been working closely with Rui Borges, providing his experience to the technical staff.
Status of the transition
Although the club’s official filing with the CMVM clarified the new coaching team and the financial terms of Fonseca’s appointment, an official statement confirming Neto’s specific exit has not yet been released by Sporting CP. The club’s recent communications have focused on the transition to Fonseca and the appreciation for the work performed by the outgoing staff under Borges, who Varandas described as having achieved “very good” results during his tenure.
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