AliousSunderland Football Club has made a significant addition to their coaching staff with the appointment of Pedro Ribeiro as Assistant Head Coach. The 38-year-old Portuguese coach will join a team of assistants including Mike Dodds, Michael Proctor, and Alessandro Barcherini, all working under the guidance of Head Coach Regis Le Bris.
This appointment comes as something of a surprise, as Ribeiro was reportedly on the verge of taking the managerial position at Liga 3 club Academica. Portuguese media outlet Record had reported that Ribeiro was even present at Academica’s recent Portuguese Cup match against Torreense, seemingly in preparation for his potential role at the club.
However, the proposed move to Academica fell through at the last moment. Ribeiro declined the offer, citing “other proposals” as the reason for his decision. It has now become clear that these “other proposals” referred to the opportunity at Sunderland. In light of Ribeiro’s decision, Academica pivoted and appointed Antonio Barbosa, formerly of Lank FC, as their new manager.
Prior to his appointment at Sunderland, Ribeiro had been without a club since January, when he left his position as manager of Leixoes. During his tenure at Leixoes, which spanned 24 games, Ribeiro accumulated a record of 7 wins, 5 draws, and 12 defeats. While this record might not appear particularly impressive at first glance, it’s worth noting that one of those defeats came under challenging circumstances in a cup tie against Portuguese giants FC Porto.
In that match against Porto, which turned out to be one of Ribeiro’s final games in charge of Leixoes, his team put up a commendable fight. They were holding the favorites to a 1-1 draw until just before half-time when they were reduced to ten men. Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage for the entire second half, Leixoes managed to keep Porto at bay until the 85th minute, when the hosts finally broke through to secure a narrow 2-1 victory.
This performance against a top-tier opponent like Porto, despite the eventual defeat, showcases Ribeiro’s tactical acumen and ability to prepare his team for high-pressure situations. These qualities likely played a role in Sunderland’s decision to bring him on board as part of their coaching staff.
Ribeiro’s appointment at Sunderland represents a significant step in his coaching career, moving from managing in Portugal’s lower leagues to taking on a role at an English club with aspirations of returning to the Premier League. His experience and tactical knowledge could prove valuable as Sunderland continues to build towards their goal of promotion.
Alious
