Alvalade now 6th in the world in terms of club members

Sporting CP continues to attract new club members by the thousands, now reaching the milestone of 140,000.

The fantastic total moves Alvalade up to 6th in the world in terms of total number of club members.

Alvalade to host brand new ladies football senior and youth system

Twenty one years later, Sporting will once again have its own female football team. Actually, not one, but an entire youth system as well. The club will create an under-17 (13 to 17), under-19 (15 to 19) and senior (over 19) team, as well as an academy for under-9's (6 to 9) and under-12's (10 to 12). 

The under-17 team will play in the 7-a-side Lisbon District Championship, while the under.19 team will play in the 9-a-side National Junior Championship. Meanwhile, the seniors will play in the 11-a-side Allianz Liga 1st division.

The Academy will operate for the under-17 and under-19 teams in Lisbon's Cidade Universitária, with three weekly sessions from 19h30 to 21h00. The seniors will train four times a week, from 20h30 to 22h00.

Female football has recently exploded in popularity in Portugal, with official statistics indicating a yearly 20% increase in participants in the sport. 

Sporting CP statement

In light of news articles published in the media, Sporting Clube de Portugal SAD hereby repudiates the content published therein and reiterates what was has already been stated by president Bruno de Carvalho:

1 – The contract renewals and players signed in the summer transfer market will make up the squad for next season

2 – Players will be signed if players leave. Any player leaving will always be for the respective buy-out clause

3 – This is the strategy which has been defined by SAD relative to the transfer market and the transfer of players to and from the club

4 – It is the coach who works with the squad and our objectives are clear: win titles domestically and gain success in Europe

5 – No Director of Sport will be signed and, as announced by the president, Octávio Machado will continue in his role

6 – Decisions such as the substitution of the pitch in Estádio José Alvalade or the improvement of the structure supporting the professional football team will always be on the exclusive initiative and are the responsibility of the SAD Administration

7 – The renewed contract with coach Jorge Jesus has exactly the same terms as the contract initially signed, contrary to what has been suggested

8 – As was affirmed by the president yesterday, various departments are undergoing alterations on the initiative of the SAD Administration and the heads of each department.

Alvalade goalkeeping coach invited to take part in premier event

Sporting's goalkeeping coach, Nélson Pereira, will we one of an impressive group of speakers taking part in an international conference on goalkeeping, taking place in Croatia from the 23rd to the 25th of May.

Various generations of shotstoppers will be in Zagreb for the event, including the Croatian national custodian, Stipe Pletikosa.

Official club statement

In light of the incidents in the vicinity of Estádio José Alvalade this weekend and following the release of images from a video from a video camera installed in the headquarters of one of our Organised Fan Groups, the Sporting Clube de Portugal board of directors has made an official complaint to the Lisbon Metropolitan Command.

The images show a barbarous attack on at least one Sporting fan, without any apparent provocation/justification visible in the images.

This is a saddening incident which has no place in the modern world.

We fully expect clear answers and punishment for those involved.

Sporting midfielder included in Costa Rica squad for coming tournament

As exptected, Bryan Ruiz will feature for in the Copa America Centenario, being held form the 3rd to the 26th of June in the United States.

The Costa Rican national coach Ramírez called up a total of 23 players to his squad and will be looking to repeat the magic of 2104, when Costa Rica reached the World Cup quarter-finals.

Ruiz and Co will open their campaign against Paraguay on the 4th of June, before facing the hosts on the 8th and Colombia on the 12th.

Bruno de Carvalho released statement

CLUB STATEMENT

Publishing information brings with it obligations that some members of the press refuse to comply with.

For three years we have been discussing these poor practices. However, certain members of the press continue to act in this way, against all of the regulations of their profession.

In this light, we would like to clarify the following

1. Octávio Machado will not be replaced by anybody.

Octávio Machado will continue as the Director of Professional Football.

In addition to his role as the Fans Liaison Officer, André Geraldesis responsible for the Players and Families Support Office, which serves the professional football team and the club's other teams. The only change made to this office is that it will now cover youth football and the Sporting Olympics Office;

2. Virgílio Lopes will continue to lead the Sporting Academy and Youth Football.

Dr. Guilherme Pinheiro is the SAD administrator who is permanently at the Academy to assist in all issues relating to youth football, allowing for more efficient decision making and the strengthening of investment in the youth system..

This addition was made after being suggested by Virgílio Lopes

3. Hiring players is, as it always has been since the start of the current mandate, in the hands of the President, who is assisted when necessary by the administrators Dr. Guilherme Pinheiro, Dr. Carlos Vieira, Dr. Rui Caeiro and Dr. Sancho Freitas, as well as the SAD legal department;

4. No club has "stolen" Slimani or any other player from Sporting Clube de Portugal and no entity outside of the club decides the future of our players.

All such news articles are pathetic and are an attempt to create anxiety in the squad.

To "decide" the future of any Sporting Clube de Portugal player, clubs must first talk to the President. This of course will not be easy, due to his stance in defence of the club and his players. The players are totally focused on Sunday's match and such news articles have no effect on them;

5. Today an article about the possible substitution of Simeone for Jorge Jesus was released. The SAD administration have contacted Atlético de Madrid, who denied this. That is something that could also have been done by journalists.

Useful information for fans travelling to Braga

The club has released the following information for fans travelling to Braga on the last game of the season:
 
– The club's Organised Fan Groups should gather at Estádio José Alvalade by 09h00.

– Fans travelling in their own cars are advised to park near to the Braga Municipal Stadium, preferentially in the Dechathlon carpark.

Alvalade defender features in squad of 23

The Uruguayan national coach, Óscar Washington Tabárez, has named Sebastián Coates in his squad of 23 for the coming Copa America Centenario 2016, to be played in the United States from the 3rd to the 26th of June.

The Alvalade defender, who recently extended his stay with the club, will join up with other stars playing in Europe's big leagues such as Luis Suárez (Barcelona), Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) and Diego Godín (Atlético Madrid). 

Youth tournament to be held in Alvalade over the weekend

No visits will be held to Estádio José Alvalade on the weekend of the 14th and 15th of May.

The cancelation is due to the holding of the Summer Cup: an event bringing together hundreds of young Sporting athletes from around the country.

No visits will be held to the Club Museum during the months of May and June due to reconstruction work, with the Museum due to reopen on the 1st of July.