Manchester City are reportedly set to appoint Hugo Viana from Sporting Lisbon as their new director of football. The 41-year-old has emerged as the club’s top choice to succeed Txiki Begiristain, who will leave his role at the end of the season.
Begiristain had initially planned to step back when he turned 55 but became deeply involved in the club’s project, especially while working with manager Pep Guardiola. He extended his tenure until his 60th birthday, which he celebrated in August. Begiristain joined City in 2012, reuniting with CEO Ferran Soriano after a successful spell together at Barcelona. Over the years, he has played a pivotal role in shaping City’s dominance in English football, helping the club win 22 trophies across seven competitions.
His decision to depart has been made with the full backing of City’s leadership, and he will remain in his position for the first six months of 2025 to oversee a smooth transition to his successor.
Reports, including those from journalist Fabrizio Romano, indicate that City have finalized an agreement to bring Viana to the Etihad as Begiristain’s replacement. While Viana is expected to start in 2025, *The Athletic* suggests that the announcement of his move could come as soon as next week.
As a player, Viana earned 29 caps for Portugal and played for clubs like Sporting, Newcastle United, and Valencia over a 15-year career before retiring in 2016. Since then, he has gained significant recognition as a director of football, starting with a brief stint at Belenenses before joining Sporting in 2018.
At Sporting, Viana has overseen key transfers, such as the sales of Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, and Pedro Porro, all for significantly higher fees than they were originally signed for. He has also brought in talents like Ousmane Diomande, Morten Hjulmand, and Viktor Gyokeres, the latter of whom has been linked with a move to Manchester City.
Interestingly, Manchester City are set to face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on November 5, just as Viana’s potential move to England is being finalized.
Leave a Reply