Author: Soorya G
Cruzeiro have secured the services of 52-year-old coach Zé Ricardo, who initially has a contract with the Brazilian club until the end of 2024. The new coach will take charge of the team from Wednesday, when the players reappear at Toca da Raposa. Zé Ricardo’s name has emerged as one of the options for Cruzeiro in the coaching market, considering the coaches without current contracts. Ronaldo Nazário’s team had no intention of trying to attract coaches who were under contract at other clubs.
He takes over from Portuguese coach Pepa, who was sacked last Tuesday. Pepa’s departure left the team in mid-table in the Brasileirão, with a run of seven games without a win. Since Pepa’s departure, Cruzeiro have managed just one draw against Bragantino and are currently on eight straight games without a win this term. The team is five points clear of the relegation zone.
Zé Ricardo’s first assignment will be the match against Santos on Thursday at Vila Belmiro in the 23rd round of the Brasileirão. Thanks to the FIFA break, he will have several training sessions to get to know the squad better and prepare the team for this crucial league clash.
Other names, such as Odair Hellmann, Portuguese coach António Oliveira, Paulo Autuori (the club’s current technical director) and Argentinian Gabriel Milito, have been considered by Cruzeiro. However, these professionals turned down the opportunity to take charge of the club in this final phase of the season.
Zé Ricardo said he expects Gilberto and Matheus Vital to return. He also pointed out that Cruzeiro’s goal in the league is to finish at least 12th, which will allow them to play in the Copa Sudamericana next season. The club is currently in 12th place.
Zé Ricardo began his coaching career in 2016, taking charge of Flamengo. He then managed Vasco and Botafogo, as well as Fortaleza and Internacional in 2019. In the same year, he also had an experience in the Middle East with Qatar SC. The coach returned to Brazil and took charge of Vasco in 2022. His most recent job was with Japan’s Shimizu S-Pulse, from 2022 to 2023, with the mission of avoiding relegation, which unfortunately didn’t materialize.
In 2023, Zé Ricardo managed just one win after nine matches, leaving the Japanese side in 19th place in J-League 2, with just five points in the table. However, Cruzeiro hope that the experienced player can lead the team to better results.