Speculation swirls over Carlos Carvalhal's departure
Sporting de Braga President, António Salvador, Secures Eighth Term in Re-Election
António Salvador, the long-standing leader of Portuguese soccer club, Sporting de Braga, was re-elected for his eighth term on Monday. The re-election attracted considerable support from the club's members.
According to official election results, Salvador secured 80.8% of the valid votes, while 19.2% of votes were left blank. A total of 2,073 members out of 18,731 eligible voters participated in the election.
In his post-election statement, Salvador downplayed the blank votes, attributing them to the lack of alternative candidacies and the widespread desire for continuity within the club. He promised to serve all members and work towards meeting the club's goals, as outlined in their program.
Salvador's ambitious plans for the 2025-2029 period include securing the national football championship title by 2029, aiming to elevate Sporting Braga into the top 36 of the UEFA club rankings.
In other developments, the elected presidents of the club's social bodies include Salvador himself (for the direction), Fernando Santos (general assembly board), Gaspar Castro (fiscal council), and Luís Machado (general council).
Salvador declined to comment on the departure of Carlos Carvalhal, the former football team's technical command. Instead, he chose to focus on celebrating the successful democratic process within the club and looking ahead to the four years of work required to achieve the team's objectives. His strategic approach aligns with the retention of key player, João Moutinho, who recently signed a contract extension until 2026.
The re-election marks another significant milestone in Salvador's leadership of Sporting de Braga, which began in February 2003.
Sporting de Braga's football team aspirations extend beyond Portugal, as President António Salvador intends to elevate the club in European-leagues by aiming to secure a spot among the top 36 in UEFA club rankings. Despite Carlos Carvalhal's departure, Salvador remains focused on retaining key players, as evidenced by João Moutinho's contract extension until 2026.
