The administrative paperwork is now complete. Miguel Cardoso will remain at Mamelodi Sundowns FC for at least another year. This extension provides the Portuguese tactician with a unique opportunity. He will experience his first proper pre-season with the club.
A Much-Needed Tactical Reset
Pre-season schedules heavily influence a team’s physical readiness. Last year, the club faced an incredibly tight turnaround. Their FIFA Club World Cup campaign ran until late June. The squad only returned to training in July. They had a mere 14 days before their opening match.
This year presents a different scenario. Some players are currently busy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, the rest of the squad has enjoyed a substantial break. This comes four weeks after they lifted the CAF Champions League trophy. Now, Cardoso can implement a structured pre-season training block stretching over a month.
Such preparation is vital. The upcoming football calendar is relentless. The team will compete across three domestic knockout competitions. They will also look to defend their Betway Premiership title. On the international front, they face the CAF Champions League, the CAF Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. For complete match analysis, you can visit our predictions page.
Chasing the Century Milestone
Stability is a major talking point here. This role has become the longest senior head coaching tenure of Cardoso’s career. He previously spent less than a year at each of his former clubs. These include Esperance, Rio Ave, AEK Athens, Celta Vigo, and Nantes.
Cardoso took charge on December 15, 2024, against Raja Casablanca. Since then, the 54-year-old has managed 88 games. He has already secured domestic and continental silverware. Now, he has the 100-game milestone firmly in his sights. With new signing Antonio van Wyk already announced, the coach has the foundation to build further success.
According to reports by kickoff.com, his administrative stay is fully secured. This stability allows the technical team to focus purely on football logistics during a highly demanding period.