Bento quits as Sporting coach
Reuters - Friday 06 November 2009, 11:22
LISBON - Sporting coach Paulo Bento
resigned on Friday following his team's 1-1 home draw against
Latvian side Ventspils in the Europa League and a poor run of
results at home.
"Paulo Bento presented his resignation as head coach as he
understands he no longer has the conditions to be in charge of
the team," the club said in a statement.
The statement said Bento's assistant Leonel Pontes would
coach the team until further notice.
Bento, 40, who played for Sporting and local rivals Benfica,
became Sporting coach in 2005 and led the side to four
consecutive runners-up places in the league.
He was under growing pressure as a poor run of results,
exacerbated by the team's unconvincing performances, had left
Sporting in seventh place in the league after last season's
second position.
Bento was booed throughout Thursday's match against
Ventspils with fans waving white handkerchiefs to signal they
wanted a change of manager.
After Sporting's 1-1 home draw with Maritimo on Sunday,
police fired shots into the air to disperse a crowd of fans who
showed their discontent by trying to break into the club
headquarters.
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