Porto Part Ways with Vitor Bruno After Disappointing Run

Porto have sacked manager Vitor Bruno after just six months in charge, following back-to-back losses and a deteriorating relationship with the players, ahead of their Europa League clash against Olympiacos.

Portuguese football club Porto has parted ways with manager Vitor Bruno after just six months in charge. The decision comes on the heels of consecutive losses to Nacional and Gil Vicente, which has left the two-time Champions League winners in third place in the Primeira Liga standings after 18 matches.

Vitor Bruno was appointed as the club's manager in June, signing a two-year contract to replace Sergio Conceicao, who had spent seven successful seasons at the helm, winning 11 titles, including three Portuguese league championships. However, Bruno's tenure has been short-lived, and the club has opted to make a change in pursuit of better results.

The managerial change at Porto marks the 12th such move in the Portuguese league this season. Other prominent clubs, including Benfica and Sporting, have also made changes to their managerial staff. Benfica sacked German manager Roger Schmidt in August after two seasons, while Sporting lost Ruben Amorim to Manchester United in November.

The relationship between Vitor Bruno and the Porto players reportedly deteriorated after the team's elimination from the League Cup. The turning point came after a 1-0 semi-final loss to Sporting, which led to public criticism of Bruno by midfielder Pepe on social media. This public display of discontent highlighted the growing tensions between the coach and the players.

With Bruno now out of the picture, Porto will look to regroup and focus on their upcoming matches. One of their immediate priorities is their Europa League clash against Olympiacos on Thursday. Additionally, Porto has secured a spot in the expanded 2025 Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, featuring 32 top teams from around the globe.