Author: Monojit Mandal
After a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Gremio on Sunday, Portuguese coach Pepa resigned from his post at Cruzeiro. On Tuesday morning (29), the club formally confirmed his departure. Pepa’s dismissal was precipitated by the defeat against Gremio on matchday 21 of the Campeonato Brasileiro.
After a discussion between the Football Board and Pepa, it was mutually decided that Pepa and his technical team, which included Samuel Correia, Pedro Oliveira, Pedro Azevedo and Hugo Silva, would leave their posts. This decision meant that Fernando Seabra and Vincius Rovaris were appointed to lead the team’s training session on Tuesday. The name of the new coach should be revealed in the next few days.
Pepa’s time at Cruzeiro was fairly brief, lasting just over three months. During this period, he led the squad in 25 matches, with seven wins, eight draws and 10 defeats. Although Pepa was briefly considered by teams such as Atlético-MG and Red Bull Bragantino for the 2023 season, negotiations broke down. Atlético-MG opted for Eduardo Coudet, while Red Bull Bragantino chose Pedro Caixinha.
Pepa received recognition from Jorge Jesus, then coach of Benfica, for his tactical brilliance and dedication to his profession in 2021, when he was in charge of Vitória de Guimarães. Pepa was hailed by Jesus as a brilliant young coach who had earned his position in the league through hard work and commitment. Pepa’s coaching style has resonated with people who value positive and expressive play on the pitch, as he is known for his passion for attacking soccer and for getting players to show off their specific skills.
Pepa’s coaching career has had its ups and downs. When he coached Tondela in the 2017/18 season, a 5-1 defeat against Benfica drew attention and even created some controversy. At the time, Porto coach Sérgio Conceição questioned Tondela’s professionalism, causing a period of tension in the soccer world.
While Cruzeiro look for a new coach, the soccer community awaits the announcement of the next leader who will guide the team for the rest of the season.