The shortage of Brazilian coaches in top European teams is a hot topic in our sport. While other countries, such as Argentina, relocate talent to the continent, Brazil accumulates failed experiences and struggles to recruit experts.
There is no definitive solution as many factors contribute to this lack of opportunity. No coach has been considered in recent years to take over a good foreign team, and those who have had the opportunity have failed spectacularly.
big brazilian coaches which did not succeed in Europe
It’s hard to think of a Brazilian coach who has had great success in Europe. Zico may be an exception, having become the ‘King Arthur’ of Turkish football, but he hasn’t coached quality teams on the continent. In fact, many of those who made it to the major leagues didn’t last long.
Remember the passage of certain Brazilian coaches through European football!
- Vanderlei Luxemburgo: He was the only Brazilian manager to manage Real Madrid, and although he did not have bad results, he was plagued with conflicts with his players, a feud with the president, and was sacked in less than a year.
- Luiz Felipe Scolari: He was a five-time world champion who enjoyed success with the Portugal national team, finishing second at Euro 2004 and reaching the semi-finals of the 2006 Cup. Then he moved to Chelsea and earned the nickname of “Big Phil”, but his European career was cut short due to a lack of success.
- Carlos Alberto Parreira: Another World Cup winner, Parreira, finished with Valencia before starting in the 1994 World Cup. Even with major signings like Mazinho, he was unable to produce results. Before returning to Brazil in 1996, he won the Turkish championship with Fenerbahçe.
- Zico: The red-black hero had a good season with Fenerbahce, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League. He later coached Olympiacos Greece, but he didn’t have the same success and was sacked.
- Abel Braga: He had a short stint at Olympique de Marseille in 2000, but was sacked after just 16 games. He was signed by Lugano in 2021 but he didn’t last long in Switzerland.
Other coaches, such as Sylvinho and Leonardo, also had chances in Europe. By the way, the latter managed Inter Milan and Milan, but was a better manager and is now at Paris Saint-Germain.
Argentine coaches be more successful
Our Argentinian colleagues, unlike their Brazilian counterparts, are distributed among the best European teams. The two best known are Diego Simeone, the coach of Atlético de Madrid for 11 years, and Mauricio Pochettino, the coach of Paris Saint-Germain.
Marcelo Bielsa (Leeds United) and Jorge Sampaoli (Juventus) are two other successful managers (Marseille). The country’s cultural proximity to Europe is certainly beneficial, but there are other factors to consider, such as personality and investment. Since 1963, the country has maintained a school dedicated to training coaches, making them more competent than Brazilians.
Possible explanations for the lack of Brazilians in European leagues
The reason for this split between Brazilian managers and European football is difficult to explain. As we have seen, famous people had the opportunity to take over massive clubs on the Old Continent, but they failed. The cultural divide is evident, as many professionals are unable to communicate in English.
There is also a sense of security in Brazilian football. Luxemburgo and Abel Braga, for example, have a market in the country even though they haven’t performed particularly well in recent years. They appear as likely replacements whenever a coach is sacked. As a result, managers have little incentive to nurture new talent or capitalize on the business’ bright future prospects.
Elite coaches, on the other hand, earn substantial incomes in Brazil and seek other countries like the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for a better financial situation. The idea of earning euros and gaining global recognition is appealing, but previous unpleasant experiences and the comfort zone in Brazil discourage coaches from ‘going abroad’.
Middle East Marlet is a target for Brazilians
Middle Eastern football has been a popular destination for Brazilian coaches over the past few decades. Financial considerations are paramount, as professionals earn far more than is paid here.
Additionally, these are calmer leagues with less crowd pressure and a greater focus on results. As a result, many experts accept this type of offer, stay there for a few years, and then return to the Brazilian market, without worrying about championships or success abroad.
New attempts in the future
Although the market is not very active, eminent Brazilian technicians are looking for outlets abroad. Cuca, Renato Gacho and Rogério Ceni have been invited to participate in the CBF Academy’s License PRO course, which is recognized by global organizations.
Thus, they fulfill a criterion to receive approaches from European clubs and, who knows, perhaps in the future establish a partnership with a team of expression from the Old Continent. Although this situation seems remote at the moment, Brazilian football remains on the radar of the world’s superpowers, and nothing can be ruled out.
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