THE Spaniard Carlos Vicens today made the sixth change of coach in the 2026/27 edition of the Portuguese First Football League, after leaving Sporting de Braga following the defeat with Gil Vicente (2-1).
Monday’s home defeat, in a delayed match on the second round, dictated the departure of Vicens, aged 43, after three consecutive defeats, two in the championship and one in the Conference League, at a time when the ‘arsenalistas’ are only eighth in the I League, already 13 points behind leader FC Porto.
Before arriving at Sporting de Braga at the beginning of last season, Vicens had been Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City for four seasons, leaving the Minho side with 41 wins in 76 games.
The dismissal of Vicens, who still has no successor, comes one day after Carlos Carvalhal left Famalicão, following the 1-0 defeat against Paredes (1-0), from Liga 3, in the third round of the Portuguese Cup, with the Minho club occupying 13th place in the I League, with just one victory.
Vasco Matos had left Estoril Praia after the eighth round, the last played in the I League, at a time when the ‘canarinhos’ occupy last place, without any victory, with two draws and six defeats.
Previously, the Greek Sotiris Silaidopoulos had been removed from the technical command of Rio Ave, after recording a triumph in the first seven rounds, leaving the Vila-Condense team in 16th place, having been replaced by Vasco Seabra, who left the technical command of Arouca to head to Vila do Conde.
The first coach to leave in this edition of the I League was João Gião, who left Nacional after the fourth round, when the Madeirans were in ninth place, with four points. Bruno Abreu also guided the islanders on an interim basis during the visit to Sporting, before Alexandre Santos took over as coach from the sixth round onwards.
– Coach changes in the 2026/27 edition of the I Portuguese Football League:
Journey Clube Sai Enter
4th National João Gião Bruno Abreu (interim)
5th National Bruno Abreu (interim) Alexandre Santos
7th Rio Ave Sotiris Silaidopoulos Vasco Seabra
7th Arouca Vasco Seabra VÃtor Severino
8th Estoril Praia Vasco Matos Sérgio Raimundo (interim)
8th Famalicão Carlos Carvalhal To be appointed
8th Sporting de Braga Carlos Vicens To be appointed
