Sporting Lisbon were unable to spread any festive cheer on Christmas Day, just over a month after sacking manager Joao Pereira to replace Ruben Amorim.
Pereira, 40, is a former full-back who enjoyed three spells with the club.
After retiring, Pereira became a coach with the Portuguese side, spending two years in charge of the Under-23s before being promoted to manager of Sporting’s reserve team at the beginning of this season.
However, the 40-year-old has only won three of his eight games since taking over the first team on November 11, most notably in the Champions League, where they suffered a 5-1 home defeat to Arsenal.
In fact, Pereira became the first Sporting manager to lose four of his first five games, but the team remained unbeaten in three games heading into Christmas, showing signs of turning things around.
However, this did not save Pereira and the club announced the news of his dismissal in a short statement at 11:54pm on Christmas Day.
Sporting Lisbon sacked João Pereira, who replaced Rubén Amorim, as manager on Christmas Day.
Pereira steps into Sporting’s hot seat after Amorim’s emotional departure to Man United
Sporting won three of the eight games against Pereira, but his form declined dramatically.
“The Lion is Forever. Thank you, João Pereira,” it read.
Pereira’s appointment comes after Amorim left the club last month to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
Amorim won Sporting’s first league title in over 20 years during his spell, a feat he repeated last season amid growing speculation of a move to the Premier League.
At the time of Amorim’s departure, Sporting were leading the Portuguese league and second in the Champions League league stage.
However, under Pereira’s guidance, Sporting have fallen to second place domestically, one point behind rivals Benfica, and are currently in 17th place in Europe’s elite club competition, having also lost to Club Brugge.
This means Amorim is left in the battle for a place in the knockout stages after leading them to three wins in their first four games, including a famous 4-1 victory over Man City.
There were reports in the Portuguese media before Christmas that Pereira was under pressure, but it was also said that club leaders were expected to meet with him after the Christmas break.
Meanwhile, Amorim has endured a rocky start to life at Old Trafford over the past month and a half.
Despite having a contract until 2027, Pereira was released by Sporting at 11:54pm yesterday.
The news was announced with a short statement: “Forever Lion, thank you Joan.”
Amorim will be missed in Lisbon, but his life at United got off to a mixed start.
Amorim won just one of his first four Premier League games at the club and led United to a dramatic Manchester derby win against arch-rivals City earlier this month.
However, hopes that this result would be the turning point in what was the club’s worst start to the Premier League in their history were quickly dashed.
On Sunday, United were thrashed by Bournemouth, with the Cherries running out 3-0 winners. That means the 39-year-old has won four, lost four and drawn one of the nine games he has played since moving from Lisbon to Manchester.
After the Bournemouth defeat, Amorim claimed there was “anxiety” within the team, but vowed to persist in rebuilding their tactics.
“Everything is very difficult at the moment,” Amorim said. “It’s really tough for a club like Manchester United to lose 3-0 at home.
“The fans are really disappointed and tired. You can feel it in the first play in the stadium. We understand that, but we have to face it. From the first moment I was feeling it, but I have a lot of anxiety.
“Everyone at the club is tired of moments like this. We have to face it and focus on the next game.”
United resume play on Boxing Day against Wolves, while Sporting face Benfica on December 29th.
