Revealed: Two signings that convinced Man City to appoint Hugo Viana as Sporting Director

Manchester City has brought in Sporting CP’s Hugo Viana as the replacement for Txiki Begiristain, their long-serving director of football.

Begiristain, who has been instrumental in shaping City’s success since joining in 2012, will step down at the end of the current season. The club announced that Viana, currently Sporting Lisbon’s sporting director, will officially take over in the summer of 2025.

Before selecting Viana, City also considered Girona’s Quique Carcel. However, Viana stood out for his low-key, discreet personality and his ability to form close bonds with coaches. These are the qualities that the club highly valued.

Additionally, two key signings made under Viana’s leadership at Sporting played a major role in City’s decision: Viktor Gyokeres and Morten Hjulmand.

Both players have been standout performers at Sporting. They are seen as potential high-value transfers in the future, further highlighting Viana’s sharp eye for talent.

Gyokeres, in particular, has had a stellar season, netting 11 goals in just eight league matches, and he’s already attracting attention from Premier League clubs.

Viana is expected to join Manchester City early in 2025, where he will work alongside Begiristain to ensure a smooth transition. And most importantly continue the successful recruitment strategy that has propelled City to dominance in recent years.