In the event of a break during the anticipated a electrifying Lisbon Derby on Friday, Sporting's head coach, Rui Borges, is expected to glance down at the timepiece he considers a fortunate amulet.
"The dark Casio – bought for €20 while still playing for his boyhood side Mirandela – is a symbol of his belief in superstition and one he has maintained on his ascent from the obscurity of amateur coaching to making a mark on the biggest stage in the sport."
The Portuguese stepped in after the turbulence following Ruben Amorim’s exit to Manchester United and is crafting a excellent standing himself. The Lisbon club are chasing a third consecutive league titles and hoping to earn a direct spot for the Champions League round of 16. A pivotal few days await, featuring a trip to their rivals' Estádio da Luz, followed by a visit to face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
Starting in Modest Beginnings to the Primeira Liga
Borges's initial experience as a coach began at the fourth division Mirandela, where he bookended a modest playing career. In the dugout, however, he has made a bigger splash, claiming a league and cup double with Sporting in his debut campaign. Currently, Sporting sit second, three points behind Porto and three ahead of Benfica.
Early headaches included Viktor Gyökeres’s lengthy transfer saga, but Borges’s side are the highest scorers in the division. New signing Luis Suárez has started brilliantly, bagging nine goals in 12 matches.
The Manager of Superstition
Borges sports his faithful Casio watch every match religiously. Curiously, Casio got in touch this season, sending him various upgrades, but he has refused to change his first piece. His superstitions run deep, even including insisting on the identical seat at the familiar place after a scalp last season.
During that period joked with him for his insistence on wearing a certain gilet, which Borges was convinced would help deliver the title. They did, edging out Benfica to claim their 21st Primeira Liga and their first back-to-back titles since the 1950s.
A Rapid Ascent
Sporting are known for offering emerging coaches a platform. After a brief tenure by João Pereira, the club wasted no time to hire Borges, who had taken Vitória de Guimarães to a runner-up finish.
A seven-game winning streak to last season persuaded Sporting to activate his £3.5m clause in less than half a year. Since assuming control last Christmas, he has tasted defeat just a single time in the league.
Foundations in Mirandela
Carlos Correira, the ex- Mirandela president who first coached Borges as a boy, later gave him his initial managerial job. The aim was avoiding relegation, but they finished fourth. That achievement led Borges to Academico Viseu, where he saved them from relegation danger.
"We could see that he was a natural leader, and we could see that this was the career he wanted," says Correira. "As captain, he was someone who could bring people together. He was a student of the game, obsessed with football, and spends hours and hours working to become better. He did great work here and rapidly ascended to the top."
His subsequent challenge at Moreirense, after their return to the top flight, was another challenge. A lengthy unbeaten streak, which featured a frustrating draw at Benfica’s stadium, paved the way to a sixth-place finish, their best in the division.
Personal Influences
Borges's dad, Manuel, had a career in Portugal’s top division. He credits his late grandfather, a shoemaker, as a major inspiration. Borges devoted his first top-flight title to his grandfather and has a tattoo in his honor.
"Borges remains very humble and has kept in touch with his roots," Correira emphasizes. "Everyone supports him. He is a hometown boy, someone we’re extremely proud of. We are very proud of him."
