Former Newcastle United and Tottenham man has one ‘final chance’ to save job after dismal start to the season

Former Newcastle United assistant boss Ian Cathro has been warned that he has just one game to save his job at struggling Estoril in the wake of his side’s humiliating cup exit at the hands of fourth-tier side Lusitano on Sunday.

Cathro arrived at St James’ Park in the summer of 2015 when he was just 28-years-old. At the time the Scotsman was regarded as one of the best up and coming coaches in football after successful spells alongside Nuno Espirito Santo at both Valencia and Rio Ave. He had also worked as the youth coach at Dundee United for four years and had been involved with the Scottish Football Association's regional coaching set-up.

Cathro worked as Steve McClaren’s assistant coach at St James’ Park and was one of the few members of the team that Rafael Benitez kept on after the former England manager's departure.

Benitez told The Chronicle at the time: “I had a very good reference about him. So obviously he will help us because we need to know all the details and that can make a difference.”

Newcastle finished the season seven games unbeaten with Benitez and Cathro in the dugout but it wasn’t enough for the Magpies to avoid relegation back into the Championship for the second time of the Mike Ashley era. Cathro remained with the club for a further six months before agreeing to become the head coach of Scottish Premiership side in December 2016 after Robbie Neilson’s departure.

The appointment caused great debate in Scottish football on whether Cathro, aged just 30 at the time, would be up to the task of managing one of the division’s biggest teams. His stay in the Scottish capital was short-lived and after seven wins, eight draws and 15 defeats he was sacked after just seven months in the Tynecastle dugout.

Cathro rebuilt his reputation in the coaching world by teaming up with Esprito Santo at the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and most recently Saudi side Al-Ittihad before again deciding to go solo in Portugal this summer. The 38-year-old has so far managed just one win from his opening eight league games, leaving Estoril 15th in the table and just one point clear of the relegation zone.

Portuguese outlet A Bola understand the Estoril board are growing in patient with the club’s substandard performances and claims that nothing less than a victory over 13th place Arouca will be enough for Cathro to keep his job at the António Coimbra da Mota Stadium.