Championship clubs are starting to look after the former Wolverhampton and Tottenham coach quietly built a strong reputation in Portugal as a manager over the past two seasons.
Scottish coach Ian Cathro has turned Estoril into one of the more organised teams outside Portugal’s traditional top clubs. They finished inside the top ten in each of the last two campaigns, despite operating with a much smaller budget than Benfica, Sporting or Porto.
His side earned praise this season for their attacking football and structured pressing. Estoril also developed younger players pretty well, something Championship clubs often value highly when considering managerial appointments.
Cathro has admirers in England
That work is now attracting attention from England, according to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo. The report states Ian Cathro has already been approached by clubs from the Championship.
He is still best known for his spells alongside Nuno Espírito Santo at both Wolverhampton and Tottenham Hotspur. He worked as part of Nuno’s coaching staff in the Premier League before taking the Estoril job in 2023.
At the time, his appointment in Portugal raised eyebrows. Cathro’s previous experience as a manager at Hearts ended badly, and there were doubts about whether another senior role would arrive quickly. Instead, he has rebuilt his reputation steadily in Estoril after a harsh start.
Also, it was also under Cathro that Estoril completed three of the five biggest sales in the club’s history, bringing in close to £17m (€20m). For a club of Estoril’s size, that income is vital and only strengthened his standing internally.
Quiet work in Portugal paying off
O Jogo explain that Cathro remains under contract until 2028, which means any move would require an agreement with Estoril’s hierarchy. That could complicate things if English interest becomes more concrete in the coming weeks.
Still, the report adds Cathro’s current priority is to stay at Estoril. The coach is expected to meet club officials soon to review the season and discuss ambitions for 2026/27.
However, his background naturally makes him an interesting option for Championship clubs. He knows English football, understands the demands of large clubs and already has Premier League experience through Wolves and Tottenham.
Whether the approaches become formal negotiations remains to be seen. However, after two impressive years at Estoril, England is clearly watching closely again.