The squad will have an extended stay in the Algarve

Sporting CP moved their preseason work to the Algarve on Monday, and will stay in Lagos through to July 21st. The training camp got underway this Monday, with a first session for the reigning Portuguese league champions.

Coach Rúben Amorim had 27 players available to him, and set out a demanding workout for them involving ball drills and tactics. Missing the first session were Pedro Marques and Vitorino Antunes, who undertook individual training in the gym.

Os Leões continue their preparations on Tuesday, behind closed doors.

Team beat Belenenses SAD and GD Estoril Praia

Ahead of their preseason trip to the Algarve, Sporting Clube de Portugal's first team played two training games at the Academia Sporting in Alcochete this past Saturday.

The reigning league champions hosted Belenenses SAD and GD Estoril Praia in two 70-minute encounters, in the morning and afternoon.

gainst Belenenses SAD, Rúben Amorim's side won 1-0, with the goal scored by Joelson Fernandes. The team consisted of Luís Maximiano, Gonçalo Esteves, Eduardo Quaresma, Zouhair Feddal, Matheus Reis, Ricardo Esgaio, Dário Essugo, Daniel Bragança, Joelson Fernandes, Nuno Santos and Paulinho.

A full change of personnel for the 3-1 win over GD Estoril Praia saw a starting lineup of: Antonio Adán, Pedro Porro, Luís Neto, Gonçalo Inácio, Rodrigo Fernandes, Flávio Nazinho, Matheus Nunes, Bruno Tabata, Jovane Cabral, Tiago Ferreira and Tiago Tomás. Porro, Cabral and Tabata were all on the scoresheet.

Vitorino Antunes, Pedro Marques and Rúben Vinagre undertook specific fitness work.

The team leaves for the Algarve on Sunday, for their customary preseason training camp before their title defence gets underway.

The defender rejoins the club with an option to buy him

Rúben Vinagre is back at Sporting Clube de Portugal, after the club struck a deal with English side Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign him on loan for the season. The deal comes with an option to buy the 22-year-old left-back, who previously featured for the Sporting CP academy during his formative years.

"I'm returning to a place where I was very happy, and I hope to be happy again there," said Vinagre as he was unveiled officially to Sporting CP's media.

"The times I spent here, in the youth system, were very good. I was always very motivated to get into the first team. Coming back here, after leaving when I was still young, makes me very proud."

Vinagre spent the second half of last season at FC Famalicão and impressed many during his return to the Portuguese league. He will now remain in his homeland, working under coach Rúben Amorim and sharing a dressing room with several familiar faces, such as Daniel Bragança, Luís Maximiano and Pedro Gonçalves.

"It's great to be joining back up with them, as they are people with whom I've always gotten along very well and I'm happy to be able to work with them again. I played with Daniel Bragança and Luís Maximiano at youth level. I've also known Pote for a long time, from when we were both in England, and we are friends. It will be good to share experiences with them again. The first day has been excellent, you can see that the group are very united, and they are all very happy. It will be easy for me to adapt," he stated.

The most recent summer addition also reflected on his recent experiences abroad, as well as showing his pleasure with his homecoming.

"Playing in England was positive. I grew up as a player there. It's a different style of play and the league is very intense and physical, but the Portuguese league also has a lot of quality and brings through many young players. It's a step forward, and I am now at my dream club. I'll give everything for this team," he assured.

"Sporting CP were the toughest opponent I faced last season. You could see that the group was very close, and that the players were always switched on. It was not easy to play at the Estádio José Alvalade, and that was the game in which I felt the most difficulties last season."

"I want to have a positive season, with Sporting CP achieving all the goals that we set ourselves," he continued.

"Sporting CP have brought through some fantastic players, and continue to do so. Everyone knows the quality of the Academy, from which players with a lot of quality emerge every year."

Rúben Vinagre was part of that youth system at Sporting CP between 2009/2010 and 2014/2015, sandwiching a spell at Belenenses. His first international experience was at AS Monaco, for two seasons, followed by a loan -and subsequent permanent move- to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Last season he played on loan at both Greek side Olympiacos FC of Greece and Portugal's FC Famalicão.

League calendar released

Reigning league champions Sporting Clube de Portugal will begin their defence of the title against newly promoted FC Vizela, it was announced at the draw on Thursday at the Centro de Congressos da Alfândega do Porto.

The season will get underway on the weekend of August 7-8th, and will close on May 15th with a game against CD Santa Clara at the  Estádio José Alvalade.

Fixtures against FC Porto (home) and SL Benfica (away) in the first half of the season are set for Matchdays 5 and 13, respectively.

Rúben Amorim named Best Coach and Pedro Gonçalves Best Young Player

Sporting CP captain Sebastián Coates has been voted Liga NOS' Best Player for the 2020/21 season, it was announced on Thursday at the Gala Kick-Off at the Centro de Congressos da Alfândega do Porto.

The Uruguayan international received the most votes by the coaches and captains of the sides participating in the Primeira Liga. Coates played 33 games of a possible 34 in the league, being named Man Of The Match on three occasions and leading the most solid defence in the competition -conceding just 20 goals all season. The centre back also showed his attacking talent, scoring five goals. He beat teammates João Palhinha and Pedro Gonçalves in the voting.

"I'm very happy with this award, and I want to thank everyone who voted for me," said Coates. "The Portuguese league is very competitive, but of course you can always improve. Year after year, the league has grown a lot and has several teams and coaches that have evolved greatly. For foreign players, it's a league where we like to play, and Portugal is a country that always welcomes those who come in from abroad."

Looking ahead to 2021/22, Coates added that "As a group we have well defined goals, and the first competition up is the Supertaça. Like last season, we have to take things game by game and be very focused. Every match will be difficult and we have to concentrate."

 
Rúben Amorim, who led the team to their first league title in 19 years, scooped the Best Coach award, ahead of Daniel Ramos of CD Santa Clara and Pepa of FC Paços de Ferreira. As always, he was keen to give credit to those who had helped him.

"Without my coaching staff, none of this would be possible. The award is not 'mine,' it's 'ours.' The staff are very good at what they do, and they deserve a lot of merit for the title. I should also mention everybody behind the scenes at Sporting CP, President Frederico Varandas, Hugo Viana and, above all, the players," said the coach, accompanied by his assistants in his video acceptance speech.
 
"Is unity the secret to success? Of course the results help, but yes, it is. My coaching staff and I have come a long way together; we've been through a lot. They are very capable and I'm not very overbearing, therefore it's an easy coexistence. Everything went well during the season and, when that is the case, everything gets easier."
 
"We can't deviate from the path we've established, and a title doesn't change what we want this year. We still have distances to cut to our rivals. Our players were champions, but they're still young. That said, obviously we're going to try to win the league. Last season we believed in it, but now we know it's possible because we've already done it. We will go game by game, but with our eyes on trophies -especially the Supertaça," he stressed.

Pedro Gonçalves, the top scorer in the league with a total of 23 goals, was voted the Best Young Player in the competition, receiving more votes than teammate Nuno Mendes and also Portimonense SC striker Beto.

"I couldn't even have dreamt that I would have a season like I did, but I want to thank everyone who voted for me. Without my teammates I could never have reached this level. They helped me a lot during the season," 'Pote' commented.

"For this new season I can promise that I will work hard every day. If I do well in training, the coach will give me opportunities on the pitch. The only thought for the team at the moment is the Supertaça. After that, we'll think about the league," concluded the forward who became the first man to win Best Young Player for a second consecutive season.

Returning fullback presented as new No.47

Despite having already worked with Rúben Amorim at his previous club, the defender believes that he will receive no special treatment -not least because the coach fields those who work best during the week.

"Any player who is at Sporting CP deserves to play. We know that under Rúben Amorim those who work well, play, whether they are Player A, B or C. This is very good, because any player who works well is always prepared to play. There are no individuals who are above the collective, and this was apparent last season. We all start at the same level, and then it's up to the manager to decide. We will all work hard to help the team in the best way," he assured.

Finally, Esgaio addressed the fans, commenting that "I appreciate the fantastic support you have given me in recent days. It has been amazing. Thank you very much."

Monday was a busy day for the returning squad

After completing the customary physical and medical examinations during Monday morning, the Sporting Clube de Portugal squad took to the pitch in the afternoon for their first preseason training session.

Coach Rúben Amorim put the players through their paces on their return from the summer break, with ball work involved as well as a series of cardio drills.

The 23-man group will be back at the Academia Sporting on Tuesday for another session, held behind closed doors.

Rúben Amorim's squad undertake medicals on Monday morning

The Sporting Clube de Portugal squad returned from a summer break to start their 2021/22 preseason this Monday, with the customary medical examinations and fitness tests with the Performance and Medical departments beginning proceedings.

Some 23 players were present:Antonio Adán, Luís Maximiano, André Paulo, Diego Callai, Pedro Porro, Vitorino Antunes, Zouhair Feddal, Tiago Ferreira, Gonçalo Inácio, Luís Neto, Eduardo Quaresma, Daniel Bragança, Matheus Nunes, Paulinho, Rodrigo Fernandes, Dário Essugo, Bruno Tabata, Jovane Cabral, Nuno Santos, Tiago Tomás, Pedro Marques, Joelson Fernandes and Flávio Nazinho.

Matheus Reis is in isolation, due to his having travelled from Brazil, whilst João Palhinha, Nuno Mendes and Pedro Gonçalves (Portugal), Sebastián Coates (Uruguay) and Gonzalo Plata (Ecuador) are still away with their respective national teams after participation in Euro 2020 and the Copa America tournaments.

The opening training session for the squad takes place on Monday afternoon.

New kit supplier for "Leões"

Sporting Clube de Portugal's 2021/2022 season gets underway this week with a return to the training ground and the incorporation of a very special 'guest': Sportswear manufacturer Nike. Through its social media accounts, the club have welcomed the new Official Kit Supplier, which has joined forces with Sporting CP as of this summer.

The 'unboxing' of Sporting CP's new training kit was made by the first team players this Monday as they got back to work, with a box left in the dressing room containing the new apparel.

On July 1st -the 115th anniversary of Sporting Clube de Portugal's existence- the club will reveal the new first team kit to members and fans.

The first to wear and publicise the new shirt will be all those who took up the pre-sale reservation option during the 'Believe' blind-sale campaign.

The club thank all members and fans for their support, and are looking forward to a stylish and successful new season.

The midfielder is part of the best XI voted on by his peers

Pedro Gonçalves has become the sixth Sporting Clube de Portugal player named in the 2020/21 Liga NOS Team Of The Year, voted on by coaches and captains of top flight teams in Portugal.

In his debut season with the club, Gonçalves had an immediate and decisive impact, scoring a total of 23 goals. He was Liga NOS' top scorer in the campaign, and also provided a further 2 assists.

A constant presence in the starting XI, he played 32 league games -in which he was named Man Of The Match on eight occasions.

As a result of his remarkable season at the Estádio José Alvalade, Gonçalves has taken another step forward in his career with a first callup for the Portuguese national team, and is part of the squad selected by coach Fernando Santos for this summer's Euro 2020 tournament.

Twice the winner of the Player Of The Month award in Liga NOS, and three times Midfielder of the Month, 'Pote' joins Antonio Adán, Pedro Porro, Sebastián Coates, Nuno Mendes and João Palhinha in being part of the Team Of The Year.