Sporting Lisbon failed to spread the festive cheer on Christmas Day when manager Joao Pereira was sacked just over a month after replacing Ruben Amorim.
Pereira, 40, was a former full-back who made three appearances for the club.
After retiring, Pereira went on to coach with the Portuguese team, where he was in charge of their Under 23 team for two years before being promoted to captain Sporting's reserve side at the start of this season.
However, the 40-year-old won just three of his eight games after taking control of the first team on November 11, suffering a particularly heavy and damaging 5–1 home defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League.
In fact, Pereira became the first Sporting boss in history to lose four of his first five games as manager, although his side had shown signs of turning things around with a three-match unbeaten run heading into Christmas.
Yet this could not save Pereira, as the club announced the news of his dismissal with a short statement on Christmas Day at 11.54pm.
'A lion forever. Thank you, João Pereira,” it said.
Pereira's appointment came after Amorim left the club last month to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
During his time in charge, Amorim secured Sporting's first league title in more than two decades, before repeating the feat last season as speculation over a move to the Premier League intensified.
Sporting were top of the Portuguese league at the time of Amorim's departure and second in the Champions League League stage.
However, under Pereira's management they have slipped to second place domestically – one point behind rivals Benfica – while Sporting now sit 17th in Europe's elite club competition, having also suffered defeat to Club Brugge.
This means they are in a battle to qualify for the knockout stages, which comes after Amorim led them to three wins from their first four games, including a famous 4-1 victory against Man City.
Ahead of Christmas, reports circulated in the Portuguese media that Pereira was under pressure, although it was claimed that club chiefs would hold a meeting with him after the Christmas holidays.
Meanwhile, Amorim has had a mixed start to life at Old Trafford over the past month and a half.
After winning just one of his first four Premier League games at the club, Amorim led United to a dramatic Manchester derby victory against their bitter rivals City earlier this month.
However, any hopes that the result would be the turning point for the club's worst ever start to a Premier League season were quickly dashed.
United were comprehensively defeated by Bournemouth on Sunday with the Cherries winning 3-0, meaning the 39-year-old has won four, lost four and drawn one of his nine games since leaving Lisbon for Manchester.
After the Bournemouth defeat, Amorim insisted there was 'fear' among his squad but vowed to continue his tactical rebuild.
“Right now everything is so difficult,” Amorim said. 'When a club like Manchester United loses 3-0 at home, it is very difficult for everyone.
'The fans are very disappointed and tired. You already feel it in the stadium during the first match. I understand that, but we have to face it. I felt it from the first minute, there is a lot of fear.
'Everyone in the club is tired of these moments. We have to face it and focus on the next game.”
United are back in action on Boxing Day when they take on Wolves, while Sporting host Benfica on December 29.
Comments