The coaching shift at Sporting is getting closer and closer, with Paulo Fonseca being at the top of the lions' priorities and Rui Borges seeing his termination negotiated in the last hours, and may not even be in the bench of alternates in the meeting in front of Shakhtar Donetsk.
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01/11/2026
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A witness passage at the Sporting alternate bank is about to happen. Rui Borges is close to being part of the lions' past and Paulo Fonseca is headed to replace the transmontano.
According to information provided by the national sports press this Sunday and confirmed by Sports to Minute, the current helmsman of the lions is already negotiating the termination of his contract with the club of Alvalade and may not even be in command of the team in the meeting against Shakhtar Donetsk, counting on the single league phase of the Champions League.
Paulo Fonseca's words after Lyon's game in front of Angers, where he opened the door on the way out to Sporting, eventually served as an accelerator in these negotiations, with the Portuguese coach being chosen to succeed Rui Borges.
“There is a possibility (of contact). We'll see. I like this group very much, they're magnificent. Sporting's interest? Right now, anything is possible. I don't know (if I'm gonna finish the season). Tomorrow, I'll be there with the group. I love working in France and I love the people of the club,” Lyon’s flash-view leader said in statements to Ligue 1+.
The talks with Sporting have been taking place for a few days, even Paulo Fonseca being the priority of Frederico Varandas and the situation has been unfolding and moving to a good port, even if there is, so far, no confirmation of agreement between all the parties or of any signed contract.
Paul Fonseca’s Tour
Born in Nampula, Paulo Fonseca moved to Portugal at a young age, having acted as a central defense in Galitos, Santoantoniense, Barreirense, Leça, Belenenses, Marítimo, Vitória SC and Estrela da Amadora, before engaging in the coaching career, which began precisely in the formation of the tricolors.
From then on, he added passages by 1st December, Odivelas, Pinhalnovense, Desportivo das Aves, Paços de Ferreira, FC Porto, Sporting Braga, Shakhtar Donetsk, AS Roma, Lille, AC Milan and, since January 2025, Olympia Lyon. This, without ever losing sight... of Sporting, your heart club, since you were a child.
Now, with evidence given, not only in Portugal, but also out there, he is treading the path to fulfill the dream of many years ago, and to assume the rudder of the green and white emblem, at the moment when it passes through one of the most turbulent moments of recent years, with the hope of being able to straighten the ‘boat’.
End of ‘line’ for Rui Borges
Even after the victory of Sporting in front of Casa Pia, in Rio Maior, by 0-2, the truth is that the destination was already set for the natural coach of Mirandela, who saw his team have a series of negative results with consecutive draws in Famalicão and in front of Arouca, in Alvalade, in September, having a late October that will have been the ‘water drop’, with the defeats in front of the LASK Linz and Academic of Viseu, in front of its supporters, which generated a growing challenge among the Leonino supporters.
[News updated at 7:52 p.m.]