Former Bafana Bafana, Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter has been unveiled as new coach of Portuguese club Boavista.
Baxter has returned to Portugal for the first time since coaching Vitoria de Setubal in the 1987-88 season but he has a big job on his hands as Boavista are bottom of the table with just 18 points from 29 matches in the top flight.
Boavista are five points from safety and with as many matches remaining, Baxter, who has signed a contract until the end of next season, has to find some magic to save them from relegation.
How long will veteran coach be at Boavista?
“Boavista FC informs that it has reached an agreement with Stuart Baxter to take over as head coach of the senior football team,” the club said following the Englishman’s appointment.
“He signed a contract valid until the end of the 2025/26 season, that is, until June 2026.
“With a vast international career, Stuart Baxter has worked in countries such as Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Japan, India and Turkey.
“During his career he also managed the England Under-19s as well as the senior teams of Finland and South Africa.
Baxter enjoyed success in South Africa
“The new Boavista FC coach has several titles under his belt, including a Swedish championship and two Swedish Cups, as well as two South African championships, three South African Cups and two South African League Cups,” the statement further said.
Baxter’s last coaching job was in charge of Swedish club Helsingborg in 2023, one year after leaving Chiefs.
The 71-year-old had two stints at Chiefs, the first between 2012 and 2015, when he won two league titles, MTN8 and Nedbank Cup, and the second one from 2021-2022, and also led SuperSport to two Nedbank Cups in 2016 and 2017.
Baxter was Bafana Bafana coach in two stints, the first from 2004-2005, and the second from 2017-2019.
