Hugo Viana will be the new sporting director of Manchester City, according to several English media outlets. The 41-year-old Portuguese is joining from Sporting Portugal. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Txiki Begiristain will leave the club after twelve years.
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The former midfielder of Newcastle United and the Portuguese national team, Hugo Viana, is set to make a significant leap in his career, moving to Manchester City early next year to take on the role of sporting director.
His appointment comes at a time of transition for City, following the announcement that the long-serving Txiki Begiristain will leave the club after 12 successful years. To ensure a smooth handover, Viana will work alongside Begiristain for a few months, learning the intricacies of the role within one of Europe’s most prominent football clubs. By the end of the current season, Viana will officially assume full responsibility as the club's new sporting director.
Viana's journey to this high-profile role is a testament to his impressive achievements at Sporting CP, where he has served as the club's sporting director since 2018. During his six-year tenure, Sporting, affectionately known as the "Lions," enjoyed a period of resurgence. Under Viana’s leadership, the club won the Primeira Liga title twice, in 2021 and 2022, after a long 19-year drought. This success elevated his reputation as a visionary leader who could restore Sporting’s historical competitiveness, and he became well-regarded for his ability to identify and nurture talent, both within Portugal and globally.
One of Viana’s trademarks has been his eye for talented players who would go on to become stars in Europe’s top leagues. Not only was he instrumental in bringing emerging talents to Sporting, but he also managed the club’s player sales in a way that maximized their value. Players such as Bruno Fernandes, who became a talismanic figure at Manchester United, and Manuel Ugarte, who recently joined Paris Saint-Germain, were sold for considerable fees, representing Sporting’s model of smart recruitment and profitable exits. Viana also oversaw the transfers of Pedro Porro to Tottenham Hotspur and Matheus Nunes, who transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers before making his way to Manchester City. These deals solidified Viana’s reputation as a sharp negotiator who ensured that Sporting received top value for its assets.
While Viana’s success with player transfers was impressive, perhaps his most notable contribution to Sporting’s resurgence was his decision to appoint Rúben Amorim as head coach in 2020. At the time, Amorim was a relatively unproven manager, having only recently begun his coaching career at Braga. Viana, however, saw in him the qualities needed to lead Sporting into a new era. The appointment was initially questioned by some, given Amorim’s lack of experience, but it proved to be a masterstroke. Under Amorim’s guidance, Sporting won their first league title in nearly two decades, while also introducing a dynamic and exciting style of play. Amorim's success has since attracted the attention of several top European clubs, with many considering him one of the brightest coaching talents on the continent.
Viana’s ability to think long-term, as demonstrated by the Amorim appointment, is one of the key reasons Manchester City have chosen him to succeed Begiristain. City’s dominance under Pep Guardiola has been built on astute management at all levels of the club, from the boardroom to the bench, and Viana’s track record suggests he has the vision and leadership to continue that legacy. With Guardiola’s contract set to run until 2025, Viana’s arrival also comes at a crucial moment, as City look to ensure continuity in both their footballing philosophy and their success on the pitch.
In addition to his footballing expertise, Viana’s experience working within a club that has had to balance success with financial sustainability will serve him well at Manchester City. While City operates with significantly more resources than Sporting, they are still subject to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations, and managing transfers and player wages effectively will be key to maintaining the club’s success while adhering to those rules.
Hugo Viana’s appointment signals Manchester City’s intent to continue building on the foundations laid by Begiristain and to remain one of the top clubs in Europe for years to come. His track record at Sporting has shown that he has the ability to succeed in a highly competitive environment, and his expertise in talent identification and player development will be crucial as City looks to maintain its dominance in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
As Viana prepares to step into one of the most influential roles in European football, the expectations will be high. With a squad full of world-class talent and a manager like Guardiola, Viana will need to hit the ground running to ensure that City’s upward trajectory continues. His experience at Sporting suggests that he is more than capable of meeting the challenge head-on, and City fans will be eager to see how his leadership shapes the club’s future.
