Manchester City have officially announced Hugo Viana as their new director of football, set to replace Txiki Begiristain, who will step down at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Viana, who previously served as Sporting CP’s director of football, will assume full responsibilities in the summer of 2025 but will collaborate with Begiristain in the coming months.
In a statement, Manchester City said, “Viana will begin his full-time role in the summer of 2025, but will collaborate with Txiki in the preceding months to ensure a smooth transition. We look forward to paying tribute to Txiki’s outstanding contribution to Manchester City at the end of the season.”
Viana, a former Portugal international with 29 caps, had a successful playing career with clubs including Sporting CP, Newcastle United, and Valencia.
As a sporting director, he helped in rebuilding Sporting CP, helping them secure the Portuguese league title twice in 2021 and 2024, their first triumphs in nearly two decades.
City’s outgoing sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, has been pivotal in shaping Manchester City’s modern era of success.
Joining the club in 2012, Begiristain helped guide City to multiple Premier League titles and a historic UEFA Champions League victory in 2023.
Meanwhile, Guardiola’s contract expires at the end of the season, and while City are keen to retain his services, there has been no clear indication about whether he will sign an extension.
