Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has opened up about the “wrong” claims people made regarding his style of play in the early stages of his tenure at Masandawana.
When the Portuguese tactician Cardoso took the helm at Sundowns in December last year, he did so under a cloud of doubt. He came in replacing Manqoba Mngqithi, who parted ways with the club after their uncharacteristically inconsistent start to the 2024/25 season.
Cardoso says many critics believed his coaching philosophy would clash with Sundowns‘ renowned “shoeshine and piano” style—a possession-based, one-touch football brand the club is famous for.
However, the former Esperance Sportive de Tunis coach guided the Brazilians to the eighth Betway Premiership title and CAF Champions League final, where they lost at the hands of Pyramids FC.
Meanwhile, Bafana Ba Style were also lauded all over the world for their performances at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where they dominated possession in most of the games they played in the group stages despite not making it through to the next stage.
Cardoso stated that his coaching philosophy has always been similar to Sundowns’ style of play, dating back to the beginning of his career as a coach.
CARDOSO ON HIS PHILOSOPHY
“In the beginning, people were saying, ‘Ah, maybe coach Miguel’s style is not exactly Sundowns’ style’. That’s absolutely wrong,” says Cardoso on the Sundowns Pitchside Podcast.
“I was in Portugal for a long time, considered a coach who was too romantic in the way I think of the game. People like some more objectivity or direct game, or speed. They don’t like being under pressure in the build-up and still try to do it. And I was this kind of coach there.
“If people go back on my first professional work in Rio Ave, where we achieved a historically fifth finish [in the league]. That team was known not only for the results but also for the style of play it had.
“If you go back there, watch that team playing, you’ll be like, ‘Wow, Miguel Cardoso has a lot to do with our [Sundowns] way of playing’.
“So, there’s no conflict or whatsoever.”
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