championship Clubs are starting to take care of the former wolverhampton And tottenham The coach has quietly built up a strong reputation as a manager in Portugal over the past two seasons.
Scottish coach Ian Cathro has transformed Estoril into one of the more organized teams outside Portugal’s traditional top clubs. Despite working with a much smaller budget than Benfica, Sporting or Porto, they finished in the top ten in each of the last two campaigns.
His team earned praise for their attacking football and structured pressing this season. Estoril has also developed youth players very well, something Championship clubs often value highly when considering managerial appointments.
Cathro has fans in England
According to a Portuguese newspaper, that work is now attracting the attention of England game. The report adds that Ian Cathro has already been contacted by Championship clubs.
He is still best known for his spells with Nuno Espirito Santo at both Wolverhampton and Tottenham Hotspur. He worked as part of Nuno’s coaching staff in the Premier League before taking the Estoril job in 2023.
At the time, his appointment raised eyebrows in Portugal. Cathro’s previous experience as a manager at Hearts had ended badly, and there were doubts about whether another senior role would be available quickly. Instead, he has steadily rebuilt his reputation in Estoril. after a tough start.
Furthermore, it was under Cathro that Estoril completed three of the five biggest sales in club history, earning approximately £17m (€20m). For a club of Estoril’s size, that income is significant and has strengthened its position internally.
Working for peace is bearing fruit in Portugal
O Jogo points out that Cathro will remain under contract until 2028, meaning any move would require agreement with Estoril’s hierarchy. If English interest becomes more solid in the coming weeks it could complicate things.
Nevertheless, the report states that Cathro’s current preference is to remain at Estoril. The coach is expected to meet with club officials soon to review the season and discuss ambitions for 2026/27.
However, his background naturally makes him an interesting option for Championship clubs. He knows English football, understands the demands of big clubs and already has Premier League experience through Wolves and Tottenham.
It remains to be seen whether the approaches can become formal negotiations. However, after two impressive years at Estoril, England are clearly watching closely again.
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