Hugo Viana will replace Spaniard Txiki Begiristain as the sporting director of Manchester City, managed by Pep Guardiola, as announced by Sporting CP this Saturday.

In a statement on their website, the Lisbon-based club confirmed that Viana will take on the new role starting next season and will remain fully committed to his current position until then.

Sporting noted that Viana will be involved in the transition process towards a future organizational model. The club praised the “central role” Viana played in building a “high-level professional football structure” and affirmed its determination to continue its recent success and growth.

Following the announcement, Sporting revealed that the process had begun months ago and had seen “significant developments” in recent weeks.

As part of their restructuring, Sporting will no longer have the role of a sporting director. Instead, Bernardo Palmeiro will step into the position of general football director, and along with current scouting chief Flávio Costa, they will report directly to club president Frederico Varandas.

Viana, 41, began his career as a player in Sporting’s youth academy and later in the senior team, before moving abroad to play for clubs like Valencia and Osasuna in Spain.

Since 2018, Viana has served as Sporting’s sporting director, helping the club rebuild and secure two league titles after nearly two decades without one. His successful signings, including Swedish forward Viktor Gyökeres, have been instrumental in the club’s resurgence.

Viana will now head to Manchester to take over from Txiki Begiristain, who has held the sporting director role at Manchester City since 2012 under fellow Spaniard Pep Guardiola.