New Mamelodi Sundowns boss Miguel Cardoso's pedigree at managing top-class players is not in question, as we look at five high-profile stars who have been coached by the Portuguese tactician.
The story
Cardoso claimed his first win as the manager of Sundowns, as his team recently secured a 1-0 victory over Raja Athletic Club in the CAF Champions League this past weekend.
The 52-year-old's appointment came as a bit of a shock in some quarters, as he was announced as the immediate replacement for Manqoba Mngqithi after he was sacked this month.
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Cardoso walked into arguably the most star-studded dressing room in South Africa, with his new side comprising the likes of Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, and Khuliso Mudau, just to mention a few.
However, working with some high-level players is nothing new for Cardoso, as some of the players who have played under him in the past are now competing for some of Europe's biggest sides.
One such player is Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos, who made six appearances under Cardoso during their time at Ligue 1 side FC Nantes.
Two stars currently starring in La Liga, Iago Aspas of Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad playmaker Brais Mendez, also played for Cardoso during his stint in Spain.
Retired ex-Real Madrid full-back Fabio Coentrao also had the privilege of being coached by the new Masandawana mentor, as the two worked together at Rio Ave in Portugal.
Another familiar star, especially to African audiences, is Morocco international Sofiane Boufal.
Honourable mentions include Napoli playmaker Stanislav Lobotka as well as Emiliano Sala, who tragically passed away in 2019 in an airplane incident ahead of a big move to Leicester City.
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