Crisis-ridden Sporting on Monday unveiled Serbian coach Sinisa Mihajlovic as the man who has agreed to take on their problems.

The Lisbon club was without a coach and nine players have said they are breaking their contracts after fans attacked the squad in mid-May.

Mihajlovic, a 49-year-old who has coached Serbia and eight clubs in Italy attracting controversy but winning few trophies, has signed a three-year contract, Portuguese sports media reported.

The Serb replaced Jorge Jesus, who has taken a job in Saudi Arabia. Among the players who have said they are leaving are Portuguese World Cup players Rui Patricio, William Carvalho, Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes.

The crisis at the club began when Sporting lost a Europa League game to Atletico Madrid in April and club president Bruno de Carvalho tweeted ferocious criticism of the players. When they responded demanding "respect", De Carvalho called the players "spoilt brats" and suspended 19 of them, only to back down ahead of the next match.

Shortly after Sporting lost the Portuguese Cup final to unfancied Aves in May, a 50-strong mob of masked fans invaded the training centre, attacked the squad, savagely beating some players.

Last week, the club suspended De Carvalho, a former leader of a group of ultra fans, but he has insisted the decision is invalid.

Club members are holding a general assembly next Saturday which could vote De Carvalho out of office.