Author: VIshwajit Sawant
In a surprising turn of events, Mano Menezes, an experienced Brazilian soccer coach, was presented as Corinthians coach for the third time in his career. On Friday, amid much anticipation, the 61-year-old coach received a personalized team shirt with his name on it from president Duilio Monteiro Alves. The announcement was made shortly before a highly anticipated match against São Paulo, marking Mano Menezes’ return to the club after his previous spells in 2008-2010 and 2014.
In an interview with the press on the eve of the match against São Paulo, Menezes candidly explained the reasons behind his return to Corinthians. He expressed his deep satisfaction and pride in returning to the team and cited the unique relationship he built with the team during his previous terms as a key factor in his decision. Menezes highlighted the mutual commitment and gratitude that led him to accept this unexpected challenge, despite there being only three months to go until the end of the season. He admitted that he hadn’t initially considered working in 2023, but felt compelled by the strong bond he shares with the club.
The veteran coach revealed that he was approached by Corinthians in April, even before the arrival of Vanderlei Luxemburgo, but turned down the offer to continue his work at Internacional. However, poor results led to the termination of his contract with Internacional in July.
Menezes’ immediate focus is on the match against São Paulo and the semi-final against Fortaleza in the South American Championship. He emphasized his intention to bring the team closer together, improve ball distribution and increase the team’s ability to regain possession in the opponent’s half. He recognized that these improvements are essential for Corinthians’ success.
Menezes signed a contract with Corinthians that runs until the end of 2025 and expressed his desire to build a new squad for next season. Unlike his previous departure from Corinthians in 2014, he hopes to stay and enjoy the fruits of his labor this time around.
However, Menezes also made it clear that his approach would not only revolve around replacing older players with younger talents. He stressed the importance of evaluating players based on their performance, consistency and contribution to the team’s success, rather than considering age alone.
Despite the challenging political scenario at Corinthians, with the presidential elections approaching in November, Menezes remains focused on his technical duties. He intends to maintain a strong working relationship with the club’s leadership while navigating the complexities of a political year in soccer.