sportskeeda
Miguel Cardoso, the newly appointed head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, has openly discussed his modest trophy success throughout his coaching career. He took over from Manqoba Mngqithi on Tuesday.
At the age of 52, Cardoso began his coaching career in 1993 at just 21 with Espinho [youth] in Portugal. The former coach of Espérance Sportive de Tunis has managed to clinch only one title—a league championship with Espérance last season.
During his introductory press conference as Sundowns’ head coach on Tuesday, he highlighted that coaching encompasses many elements beyond just winning trophies, encouraging a shift in how coaches are assessed based solely on their trophy counts.
“This discussion is quite intriguing because we live in a society and a sport where résumés are evaluated by trophies,” Cardoso remarked.
“However, many tend to forget that achieving success can sometimes depend on being situated in an environment that fosters true competition. Moreover, there are times when triumph doesn’t necessarily lead to trophies.
“For example, I have celebrated four to five victories in key competitions but ended up without any trophies. I refer to experiences such as the U19 Youth League with Shakhtar Donetsk, the Europa League with Braga, and reaching the CAF Champions League final with Espérance.
“Experiencing those finals marks a notable accomplishment. When reviewing my résumé, reflect not only on the game results but also on our achievements throughout the journey. I understand that society often measures success through trophy wins. When I moved to Tunisia, the situation was tough, but I ultimately became the champion, even though the club wasn’t on track for such triumphs at that time.
“The club was navigating through challenges and successfully reached the Champions League group stages, which was a testament to our collective belief in our potential.
“When assessing a club or a coach, it’s essential to take into account a variety of factors—such as the number of players developed during my time at Shakhtar Donetsk. Many of those players are now recognized on the international stage, including Luka Modric and Oleksandr Zinchenko, among others.”
On Wednesday, Cardoso and his coaching staff had their first training session with the Sundowns players. His first challenge will be against the Moroccan powerhouse Raja Club Athletic during matchday 3 of the CAF Champions League group stage, scheduled for Sunday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
The Brazilians currently occupy second place in Group B, having earned only two points from two matches, a situation that played a role in the decision to part ways with Mngqithi.
Against Raja, the team is aiming to secure their first victory in the Champions League group stage this season.
