Rui Borges has signed a new contract with Sporting, as announced by the Lisbon club on Friday in a ceremony led by president Frederico Varandas. The coach’s previous deal, which ran until June 2027, has been extended by one year to 2028, with an additional option year that could keep him at the club through 2029.
The renewal comes at a challenging moment for the Alvalade side, who have managed just one win in their last six matches—and none in the last five. While Sporting secured a place in the Taça de Portugal final, they have slipped to third in the Liga Portugal standings and no longer control their own destiny for a top-two finish, putting their qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League at risk. The league title, meanwhile, appears to be heading to FC Porto.
Despite falling short of retaining the league crown, Borges led Sporting to their best-ever Champions League performance in 2025/26, reaching the quarterfinals before falling to Arsenal. The only previous time the Lions had advanced that far in the competition was back in the 1982/83 season.
Borges, now 44, arrived at Sporting in December 2024. He was hired from Vitória SC to replace João Pereira, who had been sacked after taking over from Ruben Amorim midway through the previous season. In his first full campaign at Alvalade, Borges guided the team to the top of the Liga table and secured the league title in 2024/25. He also won the Taça de Portugal, completing the double.
Overall, Borges has managed Sporting in 81 official matches, recording 52 wins, 18 draws, and 11 defeats. Under his leadership, the Lions have scored 181 goals while conceding 80.
