Nacional plump for Pereira
Monday, January 17, 2005
Article summary
CD Nacional have appointed João Carlos Pereira as their new coach following the departure of Casemiro Mior.
Article body
Fresh from a spectacular 3-2 victory against Sporting Clube de Portugal at the weekend, CD Nacional have appointed João Carlos Pereira as their new coach to replace Casemiro Mior, who left the club for Atlético Paranaense in his native Brazil.
Eighteen-month contract
Pereira, a former coach of A. Académica de Coimbra, has signed an 18-month contract with Nacional and said: "I could not refuse their proposal because it fits my own ambitions. I hope I can respond to this hard task ahead of me." His new club sit eleventh in the 18-team Portuguese SuperLiga, eight points ahead of Académica, with whom he parted company earlier this season.
Difficult situation
"Nacional's situation is not good at this point and we will battle for the wins we need," added Pereira, who insisted there was "a lot of quality" in the squad he inherits. Club chairman Rui Alves said of his new coach: "He doesn't like to lose, just like us. He is a calm coach and he's just what we were looking for."