Ruthless Vitória sack Luís Freire after missing out on Europe | OneFootball

Vitória SC coach Luís Freire has been fired from the Guimarães club after just five months in charge, the manager paying the price for failing to secure European football.

Defeat in the last two matches of the season at home to Farense and away at Sporting allowed Santa Clara to overtake Vitória in fifth place in the Liga Portugal final standings, the Azorean team therefore qualifying for the UEFA Conference League.

A message on Vitória’s official website read:

“Vitória Sport Clube has agreed with Luís Freire to terminate his employment contract with immediate effect. At the end of the league season, the board of directors analysed the 2024/25 season and decided to plan for the future with a new head coach, who will be announced at the opportune time.”

Freire’s contract ran until June 2026, but a clause allowed the club to release him without compensation if European football was not secured.

When he took over in mid-January from Daniel Sousa, Vitória were in sixth place in the table, eight points behind Santa Clara, but a run of just one defeat in 13 matches enabled the northerners to get ahead of the islanders with a couple of games remaining.

The match against Farense proved decisive. Vitória fell to a shock 2-1 home defeat, leaving them needing to beat Sporting on the final matchday with the Lions also needing the three points to clinch the title. Sporting won 2-0.

Luís Freire can consider himself unlucky to have lost his job twice this season, at Rio Ave first then at Vitória, with the dismissals harsh on both counts. His next job will be crucial to restore his reputation as one of Portugal’s brightest young coaching prospects.