Crisis club Sporting appoint Mihajlovic

Troubled Sporting CP have appointed Sinisa Mihajlovic as their new head coach on a three-year contract.

The 49-year-old has spent most of his managerial career in Italy, having assisted Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan before spells at clubs including Fiorentina, Sampdoria and AC Milan, as well as the Serbian national team.

Mihajlovic replaces Jorge Jesus, who left to take a job in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal, and has work to do with a number of off-field issues impacting on the club.

Jesus left Sporting in early June after a group of fans invaded the training ground and attacked the squad.

Bem-vindo, Mister #Mihajlovic! pic.twitter.com/m98OmBoPb7

— Sporting Clube de Portugal (@Sporting_CP) June 18, 2018

Several top players, including Portugal internationals Rui Patricio, William Carvalho, Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes, have all terminated their contracts with the Lisbon club, leaving Mihajlovic with a big rebuilding job.

The incident came after a disappointing end to the season for Sporting, who finished third in the Primeira Liga but lost to unfancied Aves in the Taca de Portugal final.

Outspoken club president Bruno de Carvalho had also publicly criticised the players.