After living the most glorious season in its history in 2024, Botafogo accumulates disappointments this year. Faced with his fans at the Nilton Santos Stadium, this Thursday (27), the alvinegra formation was again surpassed by Racing, 2-0, and lost the dispute of Recopa South American.
In the first leg in Buenos Aires, Argentines won 2-0 and could even lose by a goal difference in Brazil that would still be with the cup.
The current champions of the Copa Sudamericana, however, took advantage of the weaknesses of a cast that until hours before the match did not have an effective coach-Mostas Zaracho, 5 minutes from the final stage, and Bruno Zuculini, at 24, defined the scoring in Rio de Janeiro.
Shortly before the duel, Botafogo got the hiring of Portuguese Renato Paiva, 54, unemployed since his departure from Toluca, Mexico, in December last year. It should be made official in office this Friday.
The Rio team had been without a coach since the departure of Portuguese Artur Jorge in January. After the goodbye of one of the main responsible for the recent achievements of the Libertadores and the Brazilian, two interims went through office.
Carlos Leiria, who directed the team in the 3-1 loss to Flamengo at Super Cup of Brazil, and Claudio Caçapa, who saw the team be eliminated in the first phase of the state championship.
John Texor, owner of the club, took a long time to find a replacement and accumulated refusal of Rafa Benítez, Tata Martino and André Jardine.
With the delay, the planning for the sequence of the season was compromised. Carioca formation faces the Brazilian Championship, Libertadores and the new FIFA Club World Cup.
