Sporting Lisbon are champions of Portugal for the 20th time. The Lions took the final step on matchday 32 and crowned an outstanding season. But what happens next?
With Sporting beating Portimonense 3-0 on Saturday and their last opponents Benfica Lisbon slipping up at Famalicao a day later (0-2), the green-and-whites became champions on the sofa – for the 20th time in their club’s history. Only FC Porto (30) and Benfica (38) have been more successful
The capital team, also known as Leoes because of the lion in their crest, crowned an outstanding season with this win. Sporting Clube de Portugal, as the club is officially known, have won all 16 home games to date with a goal difference of 54:11 and also lead the away table (36 points) despite two defeats away from home. Viktor Gyökeres is currently the club’s top goalscorer and top scorer, while Pedro Goncalves is currently the club’s top assist provider.
It is the second title since 2021 under coach Ruben Amorim. The 39-year-old, who took over the reins at Sporting almost exactly four years ago, is the father of the current success. Previously, Sporting had to wait for a championship since 2002, falling behind Benfica and FC Porto both in sporting and financial terms.
And Amorim’s arrival in March 2020 was anything but quiet. The fans were annoyed by the transfer fee, which was horrendous for a coach – according to media reports, Sporting transferred ten million euros to SC Braga. And then there was Amorim’s career. As a player, he won the Portuguese championship three times and the cup once – with hated arch-rivals Benfica, of all teams
With fast transition play via the wings to success
However, Amorim quickly won over his critics. He implemented a 3-4-3 and a 3-4-2-1 at Sporting, continuing the tradition of fast transition play via the wings. In his first full season, he led the Lions straight to the championship, and after a weaker season in 2022/23, Sporting returned to winning ways this season. The majority of attacks are initiated via the flanks. According to TheAnalyst.com, only around 26% of goalscoring opportunities are set up by the central midfield, with the rest coming from the left and right flanks. And in the middle, there is one man who is able to convert the passes from the rail and creative players with ice-cold precision: Gyökeres.
The Swedish international striker, who played for FC St. Pauli on loan in the 2019/20 season and made a name for himself with seven goals, came to the Tejo last summer from Coventry City for a reported €24 million. And impressed right from the start at Sporting. The 25-year-old has become an integral part of Sporting’s starting eleven and is by far the league’s top scorer. Together with Englishman Marcus Edwards, Gyökeres forms a fast and powerful attacking duo. As Amorim wanted, Gyökeres is far more than just a penalty area player – only just under five percent of his ball contacts take place in the central penalty area.
Some of the key players will be hard to keep
With the championship wrapped up, Sporting can now concentrate on the cup final, with the final against FC Porto on May 26. And after that? In the summer – as is so often the case – there will probably be a shake-up. After all, their success has attracted the attention of international competitors. And Amorim in particular is coming into focus. The successful coach is being traded in the Premier League and was recently in negotiations with West Ham United in London.
And Gyökeres is also unlikely to be kept. At least Sporting will make a tidy profit from a sale: After all, the Swede signed a contract until 2028 last summer – which includes a release clause of over €100 million. And there are many interested parties – especially from the financially strong Premier League. A bidding war is likely to drive the price up even higher – and Sporting will be rubbing their hands in glee.