Porto have announced that Paulo Fonseca has been appointed as their new coach, replacing the outgoing Vítor Pereira. He has departed for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia after winning two consecutive Portuguese titles.
"Paulo Fonseca will be the new coach of FC Porto and will sign a contract for the next two seasons," a statement on the Porto website announced.
The hiring represents a big step up for a coach who has been in charge of Paços de Ferreira since 2012. He impressed this season by guiding them to a third place finish in the Primeira Liga, thereby ensuring they made the Champions League qualification stages for the first time in their history.
It represents a gamble from a club that has won the last three Portuguese league titles, who have not only lost Pereira recently, but also two of their star players in James Rodríguez and João Moutinho. It's all changing at the Estádio do Dragão, and seeing how they adapt will be interesting.
Follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter | Like SB Nation Soccer on Facebook
More in Soccer:
• What’s the Stefan Jovetic fuss all about?
• Jermaine Jones out for USA vs. Panama
• Big year for the Premier League’s big sides upcoming