League Gala: Sporting Wins Champions, Best Coach and Player Awards

Champion Sporting was the big winner at Monday's Gala Liga Portugal awards ceremony which had the honour of bringing together the presidents of Sporting, Benfica and FC Porto at the Porto Customs headquarters.

The Lions won the awards for champion, best coach and best player. As for the league, only the best goal award remains, which was given to João Mendes (Vitoria), for the wonderful goal he scored against SB Braga, as well as the assists award, given to FC Porto.

Goal of the year:

Joao Mendes dropped 🫳🏻‍💣 Real emotions! 🤯

A moment of pure magic 🪄 made it impossible for 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐎 not to receive the award 🤲🏻 from 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐨 from #LigaPortugalBetclic 2023/24 🥇#Portuguese_League #Portuguese_League_Awards #Talent Creation pic.twitter.com/gMFXctDYtA

– Portuguese League (@ligaportugal)
August 26, 2024

Frederico Varandas took the stage to receive the champion's trophy and recalled the defeat in the Super Cup. “This trophy is proof that Sporting has once again found its place, at the top of Portuguese football. As for the title, it is a title won by the coach and the players. A milestone in this tournament was when we played in Luz and in the 93rd minute we lost that game. It was a game that stayed in the minds of the coach and our fans. This season we let the title slip away from our hands and I also know that this game will stay in the minds of the coach and the players until the end of the season.”

The ceremony was also marked by a long round of applause for Sven-Göran Eriksson, the former Benfica coach who died on Monday at the age of 76, and was also greeted by Benfica president Rui Costa, who presented himself in mourning to receive the award for women's football.

Awards distributed during the ceremony

Champion Award: Frederico Varandas (President of Sporting)

Best Coach: Ruben Amorim (Sporting)

Best Player of the Year: Victor Gyokeris (Sporting)

Goal of the year: Joao Mendes' goal for Vitoria against Braga (chosen by fans)

Partner of the Year: Betclic (League Sponsor)

Football Award is You (related to assists): Porto Club

League Cup Award: Braga

Women's Football Award: Benfica

Talents that distinguish the global award: Artur Soares Dias (referee who ended his career)

LP Meu Super Champion Award: Santa Clara (Second Division Winner)

International Appreciation Award: European leagues

Football That Unites Us Award: Regional and provincial federations

Prestige Award: Jose Pereira (President, National Football Coaches Association)

Hall of Fame Award: Paulo Souza

Sports Merit Award: Fernando Gomez (FPF President)

President's Award: Fernando Santos