Sporting Clube de Portugal
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Full name
Sporting Clube de Portuga
Nicknames
Sportinguistas
Leões (Lions)
Verde e Brancos (Green and Whites)
Ground
Estádio José Alvalade
(Capacity: 50,076)
Location Lisbon - Portugal
Built 2003 Opened - 6 August 2003
Owner - Sporting Clube de Portugal
Surface - Grass
Construction cost - €105 million
Architect - Tomás Taveira
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Chairman
José Eduardo Bettencourt
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Wikipedia says...
Sporting Clube de Portugal also known locally as Sporting CP, Sporting, and often incorrectly as Sporting Lisbon by English-speaking nations is a Portuguese sports club based in Portugal's capital city of Lisbon. The club is particularly renowned for its football department. With more than 100,000 registered club members, its teams, athletes and supporters are often nicknamed Leões - English: The Lions) by its fans.
During the first century of the club's existence, the teams and the athletes of Sporting won 50 Olympic gold medals (Continental and Global), as well as many silver and gold medals and thousands of national and district titles. Few clubs in the world can boast such success, with there being no other at national level. Sporting is, after Barcelona, the club with more European titles across all of the disciplines in which the club competes.
During the founding period (1906), José Alvalade made known his wish to transform Sporting into a "....big Club, as big as the biggest in Europe." Today, one century later, the extraordinary record that Sporting boasts is the manifestation of José Alvalade's, as well as the other founders of the club's, principles, values, winning ethic and ambitious spirit of sportsmanship. Daring to clear pathways in a time when, in Portugal, sports were still activities in their developmental stages and having mainly elitist characteristics, the first "Sportinguistas" managed to found a powerful collective that projects itself onto the global level in the form of the present day Sporting Clube de Portugal. As well as the many titles achieved by the club, Sporting Clube de Portugal also boasts more than three million fans spanning all continents: with up to 300 Supporters clubs, offices and delegations, as well as more than 150 affiliates[6]. This dynamic and successful environment speaks for itself.
A New Era Dawns
07.07.09
Today at a crowded press conference inside the Estádio José Alvalade, Sporting CP's Manager; Costinha, and Coach; Paulo Sérgio told suprised journalists that they would be stepping down from their roles with immediate effect. They explained that although they loved their job roles they felt that they couldn't take the club any further than its position now. They affectionately told the world of their fondness for the club and stated that they will always look back on their time at the club with happy memories. As they left the press conference both men shook hands with the clubs chairman José Eduardo Bettencourt, took a bow each and then left the room.
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Chairman José Eduardo Bettencourt then sat down in front of the many jornalists who were still digesting the immediate resignation of the clubs Coach and Manager. He took a sip from a cup of water and went on to say...
"We at the club have been aware of what you have just seen unfold today, we tryed to stop what has happened but failed. For this we apologise. We felt the club was in good hands and was leaning in the right direction, nonetheless we have to move on and wish both our former employees the best of luck".
"Today we have witnessed two fine gentleman leave this club, but I don't want you all going home feeling that this football club has let you down. Firstly as I said before we have known about this situation for a while and myself and the clubs board have spoken at depth and had many long meetings and discussions about who can fill the gap. We have done so without being rushed into a decision as we have had plenty of time to prepare. We feel we have made the right choice and are happy to introduce you too Mr...
Kofi Blake"
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The journalists looked at each other, most of them slowly remembering who this man was. He was the former footballer that in his playing days signed for Real Madrid as a young Jamaican striker, only to play one match in which he scored an own goal and was soon after red carded. He never played for Real again. He was bought by Lazio for a cool £1m soon after and enjoyed a successful season there scoring 8 goals before then being bought by Fulham for £2.5M where he scored another 8 goals. In his second season with Fulham he was badly injured, he damaged his right cruciate knee ligament and was forced to retire aged just 24. He faded into obscurity but was always remembered for his nightmarish Real Madrid debut.
He took a seat next to José Eduardo Bettencourt and adressed the onlooking somewhat gobsmacked journalists.
" Ey man how are ya all? Bet you weren't expectin this at all were ya? Firstly I just want to tank Mr. Costinha and Mr. Paulo Sérgio for leaving me a great team to inherit. I tink you'll all agree they done a fantastic job. Secondly I would like to Tank Mr. Bettencourt for having faith in me and trusting me to do well with the club. I haven't really been in the public eye much of late, thats cos I been managing in my home country for a couple of years. After I recovered from my injury at Fulham I went home and earned my coaching badges. I soon took up a manigerial role back in Jamaica and won the second divisional league within two years. I was still managing when I was contacted by this fine man next to me about this job. I'm glad to be back in Europe and glad to be here too. Me and Mr. Bettencourt have had many meetings and are definately looking at improving this club."
And with that both men shook hands and posed for pictures they then scurried off into another room within the complex.
So just like that the journalists and fans had to take in the fact that their much loved Manager and Coach had resigned and that a famous for all the wrong reasons Jamaican footballing flop had arrived to take charge...
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"Watch this space mon!!!"
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