Rui Borges's remarkable sporting resurgence is built on a foundation of exceptional talent and an unshakeable sense of luck – in the form of his cherished Casio watch. Acquired for a mere €20 during his playing days with Mirandela, the watch has become an integral part of Borges's superstitious nature, a symbol of his unwavering commitment to his craft.
The 44-year-old Portuguese coach has overcome turbulent times, rising from obscurity as an amateur coach to earning recognition on the biggest stage in club football. With Sporting leading the charge for their third consecutive league title and vying for Champions League qualification, Borges's tenure is set to be a defining moment in the club's history.
Borges's journey began at Mirandela, where he bookended a modest playing career with stints at lower-tier clubs. However, his true success story unfolded when he secured a domestic double with Sporting last season, winning both the league and cup in his inaugural campaign. This season, Sporting sit second in the division, three points behind Porto and three ahead of Benfica.
Despite initial headaches, including Viktor Gyökeres's protracted exit, Borges's side have flourished under his guidance, becoming the highest scorers in the division with the Colombia striker Luis Suárez hitting the ground running. The Portuguese coach has shown remarkable adaptability, navigating setbacks and leveraging his team's strengths to achieve impressive results.
Borges wears the watch every game without fail, a testament to his unwavering dedication to his craft. His superstitious nature extends beyond this simple habit, as evidenced by his insistence on sitting at the same table at the same restaurant after a scalp last season. The tactic may have been ridiculed by his players, but it proved successful in securing Sporting's 21st Primeira Liga title.
Sporting has a history of giving up-and-coming coaches a chance, with Borges joining an elite group that includes Marco Silva, Amorim, and João Pereira. His success at Vitória de Guimarães paved the way for his promotion to Sporting, where he has continued to impress, taste defeat just once in the league.
Borges's humble beginnings and roots in Mirandela are a source of pride for the community, which has rallied behind him throughout his career. From his early days as a coaching apprentice to his current status as a top-tier coach, Borges remains grounded and committed to his craft, with his family – particularly his late grandfather, Ze Pedro – playing a significant role in shaping his approach.
As Sporting embark on a pivotal few days, including a visit to Benfica's Estádio da Luz and a showdown with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, Borges will undoubtedly rely on his trusted watch for good fortune. The question remains whether it's just luck or a combination of talent, hard work, and dedication that has catapulted this Portuguese coach onto the international stage.
The 44-year-old Portuguese coach has overcome turbulent times, rising from obscurity as an amateur coach to earning recognition on the biggest stage in club football. With Sporting leading the charge for their third consecutive league title and vying for Champions League qualification, Borges's tenure is set to be a defining moment in the club's history.
Borges's journey began at Mirandela, where he bookended a modest playing career with stints at lower-tier clubs. However, his true success story unfolded when he secured a domestic double with Sporting last season, winning both the league and cup in his inaugural campaign. This season, Sporting sit second in the division, three points behind Porto and three ahead of Benfica.
Despite initial headaches, including Viktor Gyökeres's protracted exit, Borges's side have flourished under his guidance, becoming the highest scorers in the division with the Colombia striker Luis Suárez hitting the ground running. The Portuguese coach has shown remarkable adaptability, navigating setbacks and leveraging his team's strengths to achieve impressive results.
Borges wears the watch every game without fail, a testament to his unwavering dedication to his craft. His superstitious nature extends beyond this simple habit, as evidenced by his insistence on sitting at the same table at the same restaurant after a scalp last season. The tactic may have been ridiculed by his players, but it proved successful in securing Sporting's 21st Primeira Liga title.
Sporting has a history of giving up-and-coming coaches a chance, with Borges joining an elite group that includes Marco Silva, Amorim, and João Pereira. His success at Vitória de Guimarães paved the way for his promotion to Sporting, where he has continued to impress, taste defeat just once in the league.
Borges's humble beginnings and roots in Mirandela are a source of pride for the community, which has rallied behind him throughout his career. From his early days as a coaching apprentice to his current status as a top-tier coach, Borges remains grounded and committed to his craft, with his family – particularly his late grandfather, Ze Pedro – playing a significant role in shaping his approach.
As Sporting embark on a pivotal few days, including a visit to Benfica's Estádio da Luz and a showdown with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, Borges will undoubtedly rely on his trusted watch for good fortune. The question remains whether it's just luck or a combination of talent, hard work, and dedication that has catapulted this Portuguese coach onto the international stage.
i'm not really sure how but i guess his superstitious thing w/ the casio watch is kinda cute? idk if it's just luck or if he's actually a genius coach lol idk about u guys but i think it's cool that he's from mirandela and has a nice family 
I'm loving Rui Borges's underdog story - who would've thought €20 investment in a Casio watch could be the key to his success? It just goes to show, sometimes it's not about being the best or having the most resources, but about finding what works for you and running with it. 
The way he navigated setbacks like Viktor Gyökeres's exit and still managed to get his team firing on all cylinders is impressive. And that superstitious streak? Adorable 
. I think it's great that he's staying true to himself and what brings him good luck, even if it means being a little quirky. 
️ Can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out for Sporting!
And btw how hard is it to keep track of the game time when u wear that thing on ur wrist? 
I mean I know its a superstitious thing but can't he just use his phone like everyone else? 
.
. He's proof that you don't have to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to make it big - talent, hard work, and dedication can take you anywhere.
. Bring on that Bayern Munich game! 
? it's crazy! i mean, sure, he's got that casio watch thing going on and all but at the end of the day, it's just a lot of hard work and dedication 
. his players were probably laughing at him back then but hey, it worked out in the end! 
But seriously though, it's not just about the watch, it's about his superstitious nature and how he's adapted to situations. The way he's able to navigate setbacks and make the most of his team's strengths is really impressive. He's got this thing where he wears the same table at the same restaurant after a big win... that's dedication 
!
That Casio watch must be bringing him good vibes or something 
... everyone says it's just his watch 
I mean, i guess if you're that superstitious it can't hurt to have a little good luck charm on your wrist...but €20 is like, the price of a decent used car lol.
How many times do we need to see a photo of Rui Borges's Casio watch?! It's like every single post just has to feature that thing. Can't they come up with some fresh material for once? And don't even get me started on the unnecessary "Borges is a legend" comments... yeah, sure, he's done well, but can we please focus on the actual football? 
. That's what I think is really behind his resurgence - not just talent or luck, but a deep sense of commitment to being the best version of himself 