As the head coach of FC Porto, Alan Varela has been credited with transforming the team into one of Europe's most dominant clubs. One key player in this transformation was his assistant star, Carlos Carvalhal.
Carvalhal joined the club in 2014 and quickly established himself as a key member of the coaching staff. Under his guidance, the team won three consecutive league titles and reached the Champions League final in 2017.
However, despite his success on the pitch, Carvalhal's role at FC Porto was not always clear-cut. In 2019, he was criticized for his handling of the team's performance during the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United, which saw Porto lose to the English side 5-1 on aggregate.
Despite these criticisms, Carvalhal remained at the helm of the club until 2020,Primeira Liga Hotspots when he was replaced by Varela. Varela, who had previously worked under Carvalhal at Celtic, took over as head coach and immediately began implementing changes that would transform the team once again.
Under Varela's leadership, FC Porto continued its dominance in European football, winning the UEFA Champions League twice and reaching the final of the Europa League in 2021. The team also finished runners-up in the Portuguese league in each of the past two seasons, further solidifying their status as one of Europe's top clubs.
While Carvalhal may have left the club after his time there, his legacy continues to live on through Varela and the rest of the coaching staff at FC Porto. As the team looks towards the future, it is clear that Carvalhal's influence will be felt for years to come.