Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Late on Tuesday afternoon, renowned Brazilian soccer coach Tite began his first day of work at Flamengo’s Ninho do Urubu training center, marking his return to the club’s management after more than six years. His decision to return to the pitch was unexpected, as he had planned to resume work in 2024. This surprising change set the stage for an exciting new chapter for both the coach and Flamengo.
Tite’s main mission with Flamengo is to secure a direct place in the prestigious Copa Libertadores, South America’s premier club competition. However, he did not rule out the possibility of competing for the Brasileirão title, making it clear that he is here to achieve greatness.
Earlier in the day, Tite arrived at the training center before 9 a.m. (Brasília time), eager to embark on this new journey. His presence was warmly welcomed by the club and the fans, who are waiting to see what the experienced coach can bring to the table.
Tite’s last managerial role was with the Brazilian national team, where he led the team for more than six years, including a World Cup campaign in Qatar. After the tournament, he went on sabbatical, but was lured away to take charge of Flamengo for the 2023 season. Speaking about his return, Tite emphasized the fascination of the pitch and the immense opportunity at Flamengo:
“I miss you, yes, the field is fascinating. The professional opportunity at Flamengo is huge, the responsibility is the same. I’m aware of that. I can promise that Adenor, as a person and a character, will be at his best.”
Tite’s day began with a tour of the CT facilities, followed by introductions to the club’s “stuff”. A meeting in the auditorium served as a platform for his first dialog with the employees, setting the tone for the team’s objectives under his leadership.
The contact with the players didn’t take place until 4pm (Brasília time) and, an hour later, they took to the pitch for their first training session under the guidance of their new coach. Tite was visibly impressed with the facilities, saying: “I didn’t know about it (the training center) and I hadn’t even visited it. He has all the conditions for an excellent job“.
Tite also expressed his admiration for Flamengo’s rich history and legacy of success, highlighting the importance of its technical principles, which revolve around correctness, education, competitiveness and commitment to winning.
It’s interesting to note that Tite knows several of the players in Flamengo’s squad, having previously called them up for the Brazilian national team. However, he made it clear that there were no prior talks with any of them before accepting the position.
“I have 12 or 13 players with whom I’ve had contact in the Brazilian national team, maybe even more. This gives us an initial insight into their behavior and way of working. But I hope we’ll be happy after work“, explained Tite.
Flamengo’s vice-president of soccer, Marcos Braz, played a key role in hiring Tite and took an active part in the negotiations. Braz expressed his confidence in Tite’s abilities and his initial observations of the coach’s interactions at the training center. He emphasized the importance of unity and transparency in decision-making within the club.
Executive Director Bruno Spindel also played a key role on Tite’s first day and praised the coach’s leadership qualities, emphasizing his character and strong human touch. Spindel stressed the team’s enthusiasm for working with Tite and the expectation of success under his guidance.