Cardoso reveals the secret behind his trophy-winning transformation at Sundowns
Miguel Cardoso believes his transformation from a travelling coach into one of Africa’s most successful managers has been driven by more than just his coaching ability.
The Portuguese coach arrived at Mamelodi Sundowns in 2024 after working across Portugal, Ukraine, France, Spain, Greece and Tunisia.
It was during his spell at Espérance that his career took a major turn. Cardoso won the Tunisian league and guided the club to the 2024 CAF Champions League final, where they eventually lost to Al-Ahly.
Ironically, it was Sundowns who were beaten by Espérance in the semi-finals — performances that caught the eye of sporting director Flemming Berg and eventually opened the door for Cardoso to move to Chloorkop.
Since then, the coach has transformed his reputation. He won the Betway Premiership in his first season before leading Sundowns to their long-awaited second CAF Champions League crown.
But Cardoso insists the biggest change was not necessarily in his coaching ability — it was finally having the resources to match his ambitions.
“I found myself being a coach who wanted to develop and who had the chance to enter clubs where he would be ready to challenge for victories and give answers to those challenges,” Cardoso told Masandawana TV.
He believes his move to Tunisia and eventually Sundowns changed everything.
“It was transformative when I had the chance to go to Tunisia and coming here to really match the demands with the resources that I have because that’s the biggest problem,” he explained.
Cardoso says his success should also serve as encouragement to younger coaches who are still waiting for their big opportunity.
“When I speak to young coaches, they ask what’s happening because I’m winning and getting trophies,” he said.
His response is simple: “I tell them it’s because I now have the conditions to achieve them.”
Now Cardoso wants to turn those conditions into even more silverware.
Sundowns face Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final on Saturday, but the Portuguese coach is already looking beyond the domestic cup.
Pirates ended Sundowns’ record run of eight consecutive league titles last season, and reclaiming the championship is firmly on Cardoso’s agenda.
“We will have championship matches to play at a high level because that’s the competition that we need to regain,” he said.
The CAF Super Cup is another major target, with Sundowns chasing the possibility of adding a third continental trophy within six months.
For Cardoso, the message is clear: the opportunity changed his career — now he wants to turn Sundowns’ resources into an era of dominance.
