Estoril Praia seems to really like January.

Last season in January they played in their first Portuguese League Cup Final and lost in penalty kicks to SC Braga.

This season under manager Ian Cathro they have won four Liga Portugal matches in a row, their best streak in about 10 years.

They have gone from near the bottom of the table to 8th place. They are one of the hottest teams in Portugal, and three of their four wins have been on the road, which is not easy in the Liga.

The season didn’t start very well as they lost their Liga opener to Santa Clara at home 4-1. They didn’t win their first Liga match until mid-September.

Things did not get any easier as they were also eliminated early in the Portuguese Cup.

However, fast forward to January, and now they are one of the hottest teams.

They are scoring, winning, and have moved up the table with a chance to compete for a Europa Conference spot if they continue their success.

Joao Carvalho is the top scorer with five goals.

The story is about Scottish manager Ian Cathro who is very familiar to Portuguese football having worked with Nuno Espirito Santo at Rio Ave, Valencia, Wolves, Spurs, and Al-Ittihad.

Nuno, who is having a great season in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, has been a positive influence on Cathro and the two friends are no doubt delighted to see each other enjoying success.

The 38-year-old Cathro speaks Portuguese and seems destined for bigger things in Portugal or elsewhere when the summer arrives and successful Portuguese managers and players are picked up by bigger clubs.

Estoril plays last-place Boavista next weekend at home with a chance to build on their winning streak.

It seems everything is working out for the Canarinhos (Canaries).

 

Gil Vicente x Estoril: Ian Cathro pic.twitter.com/erv8z64Oar

— VSPORTS ARCHIVE (@VsportsArchive) February 1, 2025