João Sacramento's Brief Tenure at LASK
João Sacramento's time as head coach of LASK was remarkably brief, lasting only from July to September 23, 2025, during which he managed nine competitive matches. In an exclusive interview with the Portuguese newspaper Record, the 37-year-old coach revealed the real reasons behind his unexpected resignation from the Linzer Athletiker. While the public narrative suggested that the dismissal of a staff member was the primary catalyst for his departure, Sacramento, who has since taken on the role of assistant coach for the Moroccan national team, emphasized that personal circumstances ultimately played a more significant role in his decision.
The 2025/26 season began disappointingly for the Linzer Athletiker under Sacramento's leadership, with the team languishing in second-to-last place after nine league matches. It was during this challenging period that Sacramento, whose full name is João Pedro Machado Sacramento, announced his resignation in September. Official statements indicated that he left the club out of loyalty to a recently dismissed staff member.
The Personal Struggles Behind the Decision
In his conversation with Record, Sacramento candidly discussed the underlying issues stemming from his family situation. He stated, "What I am sharing now is not publicly known, but I believe it is time to tell people. I faced two extremely significant moments in my life that occurred simultaneously. One was the opportunity to become head coach, which coincided with the moment I became a father." Just five days after the birth of his son, Sacramento had to leave his family to fulfill his coaching duties in Austria—a decision he recognized would have profound implications. "My wife and I decided to accept the offer because the club wanted me desperately. Five days after my son's birth, I had to leave him to go to Austria. I did not see him for two months. That was very difficult, truly very difficult," he reflected.
During this time, his wife and child were largely left to fend for themselves, as Sacramento faced organizational challenges that prevented him from providing support. This compounded the difficulties of balancing his new role as a coach with his responsibilities as a father. Ultimately, Sacramento made a conscious choice to prioritize his family, expressing that he did not want to miss out on the crucial early months of his child's life. He felt a strong obligation to support his wife during this significant phase of their lives.
Nevertheless, Sacramento acknowledged that the separation from a member of his coaching staff also influenced his resignation. He did not find the reasons for the dismissal sufficient and considered this incident an additional factor that facilitated his decision. However, he reiterated that his family circumstances were the primary reason for his departure.
Currently, Sacramento is part of the coaching staff for Morocco, which reached the World Cup quarter-finals before being eliminated by France. He commented on his new role, stating, "I have a contract with Morocco, but I have been very honest with them from the beginning. I have a clause that allows me to leave at any time if I want to become a head coach. That is the agreement we made, and that is the future project I have in mind."
As reported by ligaportal.at.
