Sebastián Coates recently enjoyed a quick break in Portugal before heading back to Uruguay. While there, he shared some thoughts on his long career during a chat on the ‘Método Baldo’ podcast. Among his many highlights, he spoke about Sporting’s championship win in the 2020/21 season. He pinpointed the exact moment when the team knew they were headed for glory.
That special feeling clicked into place after a match against Nacional. Sporting won 2-0 on January 8, 2021. The game was played in Madeira, the island where football legend Cristiano Ronaldo was born. Coates remembered it clearly: the weather was terrible, the game even had to be delayed, and it was freezing cold. Despite the tough conditions, they managed to pull off a vital victory.
After the final whistle, the locker room exploded with joy. Everyone was celebrating and singing. Coates mentioned something quite telling: the club president, seeing their wild celebration, told him right then and there that they would become champions. It was a powerful sign, spotted by someone from outside their immediate circle, that their spirit was truly special. Coates added that his ability to lead has always felt like a natural part of him.
Looking ahead, the big defender is keeping all his options open. He even took a course to become a sports director during his time at Alvalade, Sporting’s home ground. There is one path he definitely won’t take, though. He has no plans to be a coach. Still, he hasn’t completely settled on his next move. He might consider working in youth development. He enjoys the pure enthusiasm of young players. As a parting gift, Coates handed the podcast host a Sporting jersey from that memorable 2020/21 title-winning season.