Miguel Cardoso: Beyond the Badge, Beyond the Stage

Miguel Cardoso:

Beyond the Badge, Beyond the Stage

An interview with FIFA

Author: xxxxxxx

There is a quiet authority to Coach Miguel Cardoso. He is not a man of noise, but of intent. You feel it when he speaks. You hear it in how he chooses his words, not to impress, but to express. In the buildup to Mamelodi Sundowns’ first-ever appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, his message is not about ambition. It’s about meaning.

“We want to compete, not just participate,” he says calmly, yet firmly. And in that sentence, everything is laid bare.

Because for Cardoso, football is not just about systems and scorelines. It is about identity. It is about understanding who you are when you stand in the tunnel next to Borussia Dortmund. Or when you line up across from Fluminense, a club that represents the rhythm of Rio as much as the rules of the game.

When Cardoso joined Sundowns, he did not only inherit a talented squad. He inherited a responsibility, to a Club, a culture, a continent.

“African football is about joy. It is on the pitch, it is off the pitch,” he reflects. “But people must stop thinking our game lacks structure. That is a misunderstanding we have to correct, through how we play.”

And how we carry ourselves. There is a deep respect in how Cardoso speaks of opponents, not as threats, but as measures. “We know that in Africa, we are one of the biggest teams,” he says. “But we also want to understand at what level we can be, compared to teams around the world.”

It is not about proving anyone wrong. It is about proving to ourselves what we are capable of.

Before tactics, before game plans, before pressing shapes and midfield overloads, Cardoso speaks from memory. He remembers standing on the sidelines at Anfield in 2011, as Braga’s assistant coach, holding Liverpool to a draw that sent the Portuguese side into a European semi-final.

“We came from the pre-qualifying rounds of the Champions League, dropped into the Europa League, and reached the final,” he recalls. “We were underdogs, but we believed in our identity.”

Today, that same belief sits at the core of Sundowns’ preparation. Not blind hope, but measured confidence. “We believe we can challenge ourselves and create challenges for our opponents,” he says. “That is what will be most important.”

Sundowns have never been a team that just kicks and runs. Their nickname, Bafana Ba Style, is not decorative, it is descriptive- ‘Shoe shine and piano.’ But Cardoso is quick to remind us that style without substance is performance without purpose.
“We are used, here in South Africa, to imposing our game. But we must understand that against high-tempo, high-aggression teams like Dortmund, we may not always have the ball.”

It is not a warning. It is a lesson in humility. And in growth.

“My approach is not defensive,” he clarifies. “It’s pragmatic. Not conceding gets us closer to winning. Football is not played on the front foot all the time. It is a dialogue. You must listen before you speak.”

A path less traveled

Some men read the game. Others have lived it. In Cardoso’s case, both apply. He has coached in France, Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, and now, South Africa. But his time in war-stricken Donetsk in 2014 changed something deeper.

“I was the last foreigner to leave the city. That was not about football, it was about survival,” he says softly. “Those experiences teach you perspective. And perspective gives you patience. Patience with the game. With people. With pressure.”

There is a temptation in global football to seek validation. But Cardoso is not interested in that.

“This is not just a challenge for me. It is a moment for us. The players, the staff, the Club, the supporters, the Continent. This is Africa on a global stage.”

It is a sentiment that echoes in the halls of Chloorkop, in the voices of supporters, and in the boots of the players who wear the yellow and blue with pride.
“For sure,” Cardoso says, with a quiet smile, “this is the biggest moment of my coaching career.”

Not because of where it might take him.
But because of where it might take us.

Want more insight from the coach himself?

Read the full FIFA interview with Coach Miguel Cardoso here and discover how Sundowns plan to leave a lasting mark on the world stage.

Masandawana’s Legacy: More Than Just Trophies

Mamelodi Sundowns Squad – FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Know Your Group F Opponents: Mamelodi Sundowns Face World Football Giants

Where the Action Happens: Sundowns’ 2025 Club World Cup Venues

Freshly Painted: The Story Behind the PUMA x KidSuper Mamelodi Sundowns Kit

Mamelodi Sundowns Magazine

Categories

Social Footprints