Ian Cathro: The Scottish Coach Making Waves in Portugal
Estoril had just lost 3-1 to Sporting at Alvalade, but Ian Cathro was in an incredibly positive mood in his post-match news conference. “Can I put a question to you?” he asked a journalist in native-level Portuguese the last time the team from the Lisbon coast faced Sporting away, in March 2025. “What type of football do you like to watch? Did you enjoy the game? Probably you were all around here in other matches and I assume you fell asleep [at some point]. We want to do things differently.”
That night, despite the result, at times Estoril, who play in a 5,000-capacity stadium, managed to silence more than 35,000 home fans. Cathro couldn’t have been prouder to witness it.
On Friday, the 39-year-old Scottish coach will be heading back to Alvalade hoping to achieve the same, albeit with a better outcome on the pitch. Ian Cathro, born July 11, 1986, is currently the head coach of Portuguese Primeira Liga club Estoril.
An Attacking Philosophy
His Estoril side are one of the most exciting teams to watch in Portugal, averaging two goals per game with 46 in 23 matches, the fourth most, and more than league leaders FC Porto (44). Along with Sporting, they’ve had the most games scoring four or more this campaign (six). For the second consecutive season, a team used to fighting relegation finds itself comfortably in the top half of the table, albeit with the most porous defence, having conceded 39 goals.
Breaking Records and Earning Recognition
The club’s record top-flight points tally of 54, achieved in the 2013-14 season, when they recorded their best finish of fourth, is perhaps out of reach this term given they are on 33 with 11 games remaining, but even Benfica boss Jose Mourinho admitted being impressed by Cathro, saying “he’s leaving his mark”.
A Fearless Approach
The Scotsman’s secret? As he always emphasises, they play with no fear, regardless of the opponent. “I’m young, but I’ve already been through a lot, in a lot of places. I think I’ve already seen almost every film you can see in a career in this industry,” Cathro tells BBC Sport. “I’m not here trying to win five games in a row just to create the jump. I look at this project and I genuinely feel my responsibility is to facilitate the club take a step to another level. And that other level is more stability, so that no one – absolutely no-one – is afraid anymore.”
Previous Roles
The recognition for that is certainly coming. In January, Cathro was voted the Portuguese top flight’s coach of the month by his peers. Before Estoril, Cathro had a varied career, including roles as an assistant coach at Rio Ave, Valencia, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, and a brief stint as the head coach at Scottish Premiership club Hearts. He also served as the head of Dundee United’s youth academy at the age of 22, with Ryan Gauld citing him as a significant influence on his career.