Rui Borges has 18 wins in 30 European games since 2024/25, the best total of any Portuguese coach in the period covered here. He is 45, and Sporting CP have started the 2026/27 Champions League league phase with six points from two matches. Borges said of the club's continental focus: "Our Champions League is the league."
Borges's European run
The run began in July 2024, when Sporting beat FC Astana 1-0 in Malta in the Conference League. Since then, Borges has built a European record that now puts him ahead of Paulo Fonseca, who has 16 wins in the same span, while Ruben Amorim and José Mourinho are both on 12.
That gap is not huge over one season, but it is enough to put Borges on top of the Portuguese coaching table in Europe. Sporting's current Champions League form adds to that case, with two wins, six points and a +4 goal difference leaving them sixth in the standings.
Sporting's European momentum
The football around Borges is strong enough on its own, and the money has followed it too. Sporting's Champions League run last season brought in more than €80 million for the club, which helps explain why Europe feels central rather than secondary at Alvalade.
They host Lask Linz next on 2026-10-21, a fixture that gives Borges a chance to stretch the run again. Lask arrive on zero points from two matches and 33rd in the current standings, while Sporting are trying to add a third straight European win in 2026/27.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
