It did not take long for Viana to return to football, this week as director of the global family subsequently being appointed by Porting, based at Lisbon-based Belenenses, in 2018.
A few months later he was appointed locker room director and, despite needing a bit of a week to adapt, with four other coaches and failed signings such as Yannick Bolasie and Jesse Rodríguez, he finally found his feet.
“He has grown a lot because he found the right context to do so as a professional and at the same time help improve the structure,” said Leonel Pontes, who served as a Carrying teacher in 2019 and is now technical director of Shanghai Shenhua.
“Between the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, the composition of the squad was questioned, with unbalanced teams, which caused successive managerial changes.
“It doesn’t seem usual to me to have 4 other coaches in a season, but in any case the verdict issued by Amorim has turned out to be a great success.”
It has been a turning point for Sporting in its recent history and also for Viana, of course.
Under Amorim, Sporting won trophies again and finally found peace.
It is no wonder they have produced so many players.
While players like Joao Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Mendes, Porro and Ugarte have been sold for high sums, others like Gonçalo Inácio, Ousmane Diomande, Morten Hjulmand, Geovany Quenda and Viktor Gyokeres have stepped up and filled their shoes. .
This has been the result of the Amorim-Viana collaboration.
They have been friends for a long time and have played together in Portugal and also in Braga.
But their bond became especially strong as both approached the end of their careers in the Middle East.
They often met in Dubai as Amorim was struggling to cope with injuries and had Viana as a shoulder to lean on.
“It’s impressive [to have one of my best friends working for me] But in the same week it was difficult,” said Viana.
“But we appreciate any and all wholesale options, what we want to say, we say, what we want to talk about, we talk about. It’s been a nice, safe challenge for any of us.”
“What we are all experiencing at Sporting I could never experience as a footballer. Sometimes we look around us and we don’t see what we do as work but as something enjoyable.”
With Manchester Town manager Pep Guardiola out of warranty this summer and his timing uncertain, many in Portugal will maintain a similar outlook on the possibility of Amorim and Viana putting together a group quicker than expected.
