Sporting Lisbon have sacked Ruben Amorim’s successor Joao Pereira just six weeks after he became head coach of the Portuguese club.
Pereira took charge of Sporting when Amorim left for the Manchester United job, but it hasn’t worked for the 40-year-old, who has now been officially dismissed.
Under Pereira’s management, Portuguese champions Sporting lost four of their eight games and fell behind rivals Benfica in the Primeira Liga.
Sporting have already confirmed Rui Borges as their new head coach, bringing in the 43-year-old from fellow Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes.
‘I’m the leader of the Portuguese champions and I couldn’t be happier,’ Sporting’s new head coach Borges said.
‘The time for me is right. I believe things happen when they have to. It’s an opportunity [I have] worked for.’
Pereira’s six-week stint in charge of Sporting was the former right-back’s first job in first-team management.
He was leading Sporting’s B team when the Portuguese champions decided to promote him to replace Amorim.
But he has now been dismissed, with Sporing opting to bring in Borges as they attempt to defend their crown in the Portuguese top-flight.
Sporting clinched the Primeira Liga title last season under Amorim, who has since swapped the Portuguese capital for the Premier League.
Amorim’s first game in charge of United came last month, with the Red Devils registering a point in a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town in the top-flight.
United battered Everton 4-0 after that match but Amorim then tasted defeat for the first time as his side lost 2-0 at title challengers Arsenal.
Amorim’s United then lost at home to Nottingham Forest – and thought they’d turned a corner with a brilliant 2-1 Manchester derby triumph – only to suffer a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford to AFC Bournemouth.