An emotional goodbye to the eternal captain Manuel Fernandes: “One of the best in our history leaves. A great friend leaves”
The president of Sporting Frederico Varandas was moved when talking about Manuel Fernandes, during the funeral ceremony for the eternal number 9 of the Alvalade club: “It’s a difficult day. Part of one of the best in our history. Leave a great friend. He was my coach at Vitória de Setúbal. I was a young doctor. Sporting has a clear conscience due to the tributes paid to him during his lifetime. I know he was very happy inside. And I know that he is very happy for the crowd that has come to thank him for everything he has done for Sporting.” Varandas was unable to finish his statement to journalists, appearing visibly emotional.
Equally emotional was the president of the Board of the General Assembly (MAG) of Sporting, João Palma, in a moment that he considers to be “disgust†for the Alvalade emblem due to the loss of one of its greatest references.
“I would like to express the deep sadness of Sporting’s social bodies, who share this moment of heartbreak with all Sporting fans, with the Sporting family in particular, wishing the members of Sporting Clube de Portugal and all the club’s fans my best wishes. Our deepest condolences because, in fact, we are all very sad and we all share this loss. I would like, firstly, to say that it is a general, widespread suffering, which passes through the hearts of all Sporting fans. Then, saying that this tribute that Sporting organized for Manuel Fernandes is very deserved, we have just lost a unique figure from our club,” declared the director.
The president of MAG sportinguista highlighted the presence of thousands of people, including sports figures and fans of the Alvalade club, as well as representatives of the main Portuguese football institutions, including the Portuguese Football Federation and the Club League , and even supporters of other clubs and some onlookers, praising the example of dedication to the Lisbon emblem that Manuel Fernandes represents.
âHis message, which he leaves us, should commit us even more to being part of Sporting and creating an increasingly stronger Sporting with the encouragement that his memory leaves us. There was no human being who knew him who didn’t like him and I have particularly admired him since 1975 and have always followed his career,” revealed João Palma, shaken by the death of the former Sporting goalscorer.
Sporting’s offensive reference from 1975/76 to 1986/87, with 255 goals in 433 games and five victories – two championships, two Portuguese Cups and a Super Cup -, the former striker and coach died in Thursday at the age of 73, after a prolonged illness.
Born in Sarilhos Pequenos, in the municipality of Moita, on June 5, 1951, Manuel Fernandes achieved a ‘poker’ win in Sporting’s 7-1 defeat to Benfica, in 1986/87, and also played for Sarilhense, CUF and Vitória from Setúbal, between 30 games and seven goals for the national team.
After concluding his career as a player, Manuel Fernandes remained linked to football and worked as a coach at Vitória de Setúbal, Estrela da Amadora, Ovarense, Sporting, Campomaiorense, Tirsense, Santa Clara, Penafiel, União de Leiria and ASA, from Angola.
