Mamelodi Sundowns have named Portuguese tactician Miguel Cardoso as their new head coach, ending weeks of speculation surrounding the DStv Premiership champions’ leadership.
Mamelodi Sundowns names Miguel Cardoso new head coach
The club confirmed the news on Tuesday, shortly after parting ways with long-serving coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
Social media was abuzz with calls for Benni McCarthy to return to South African football following Mngqithi’s departure.
However, the former Manchester United attacking coach, currently exploring international opportunities, put the rumours to rest in a recent interview.
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“Sundowns have a fantastic coaching team, and I’m not looking at the PSL right now,” McCarthy said, adding that his focus remains on potential moves to Major League Soccer or European leagues such as La Liga and Portugal’s Primeira Liga.
Cardoso inherits a star-studded Sundowns squad, currently sitting atop the DStv Premiership standings.
With the league’s competitive nature intensifying and continental success a key priority, fans will hope Cardoso can maintain the club’s dominance while bringing fresh ideas to the pitch.
Here’s everything you must know about Miguel Cardoso
Cardoso, 52, brings a wealth of experience to Sundowns.
Born in Trofa, Portugal, he holds a Master’s degree in Sports Science and boasts a coaching career spanning nearly three decades.
His managerial journey began with youth roles at FC Porto before progressing to senior assistant positions at clubs like Sporting CP and Deportivo La Coruña.
Cardoso gained prominence at Rio Ave, where he led the Portuguese side to its best-ever league finish in 2017–18, securing UEFA Europa League qualification.
Though his stints at European clubs such as FC Nantes and Celta Vigo were brief, Cardoso demonstrated a commitment to attacking football and player development.
Most recently, he guided Espérance Sportive de Tunis to a Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 title, showcasing his ability to succeed in high-pressure environments.
Cardoso’s tactical philosophy is all about ball possession, pressing, and fluid attacking transitions, qualities that align with Sundowns’ ambitions both domestically and in the CAF Champions League.
For Sundowns, who, by the way, will partake in next year’s FIFA Club World Cup, this appointment further solidifies their status as one of Africa’s premier football institutions.
