Bahian Ednaldo Rodrigues, 71, walks to his second term at the head of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) by 2030 with a management marked by weak selection results on the field, exchanges of technicians and legal disputes behind the scenes, but with the broad support of clubs and federations.
Without competitors-Ronaldo even tried, but gave up his candidacy to come across the lack of support-Ednaldo should be reappointed in the election scheduled for this Monday (24) at the entity’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, scheduled to start at 10:30 am (Brasília time).
President of the Bahia Football Federation for almost two decades, the top hat took the president of the CBF for the first time in August 2021 in an interim way after the removal of Rogério Caboclo. He was elected for the first mandate on a single plate in March 2022.
At the time under the command of Tite, the national team had good results in the period, taking advantage of more than 80% and only one defeat, but the draw with Croatia culminated in the elimination in the Qatar Cup on penalties.
With the new drop in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, Tite left office, and the demand for a new coach generated the first wear and tear of the CBF president.
In search of a heavy name to lead the team, Ednaldo even indicated the hiring of Real Madrid Italian Carlo Ancelotti, but only one year ago in mid -2024.
In the meantime, Ramon Menezes, borrowed from the under-20 team, and Fernando Diniz, divided with Fluminense, took over, unable to deliver the expected results. With the duo, the team accumulated five losses, three wins and a draw, with only 37%, one of the worst in history.
Pressured for the lack of results on the pitch, which also had the non -classification of the men’s team for Paris Games, Ednaldo still had to deal with a court dispute by the entity’s command.
In December 2023, he was dismissed by decision of the TJ-RJ (Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice), by understanding that an agreement signed between the CBF and the MPF (Federal Prosecutor), which paved the way for its election, was illegal. After a series of comings and goings in the courts, the leader was reappointed in January 2024, by decision of the Supreme Court (STF).
As soon as he resumed the seat, the first decision was to dismiss Fernando Diniz. With Ancelotti renewing with Real Madrid and the pressure by a definitive name, Ednaldo agreed with Dorival Júnior in the early days of 2024 to lead Brazil to the World Cup.
With team difficulties in finding the ideal training without Neymar, the year 2025 will be important for the president of CBF to evaluate the permanence of the current coaching staff by 2026.
Last week, amid preparations for major duels from the team on the way to the World Cup, against Colombia and Argentina, Ednaldo summoned the entity’s elections for this Monday.
The process was mere formalization for the renewal of office – it is a more inclusive football and without discrimination of any kind “was the only one recorded for the election, with the support of 27 Federations and 13 Serie A and 13 clubs.
From Serie A, the plate was signed by Palmeiras, Sao Paulo, Internacional, Grêmio, Youth, Atlético-MG, Cruzeiro, Botafogo, Vasco, Bahia, Sport, Vitória and Ceará. In Serie B, Ednaldo was supported by Atletico-GO, América-MG, Athletic-MG, Amazonas, Avaí, Chapecoense, Criciuma, CRB, Botafogo-SP, Goiás, Novorizontino-SP, Worker/PR and Volta Redonda-RJ.
“We will try to make a mandate that increasingly seek the promotion of Brazilian football, fighting for the purification of this football and social inclusion and especially in the fight against racism and all kinds of discrimination,” said Ednaldo.
Former player Ronaldo Nazário even announced his candidacy, but did not find back to continue with the endeavor. According to him, of the 27 federations sought, found 23 closed doors.
“We know that the CBF has historically come from complicated processes in terms of management. And bad or good, with all the legal nuances that happened, President Ednaldo has sought to maintain a management that moves away from the topics that came in the previous scope,” said International President Alessandro Barcellos.
“There is still a lot to improve, but looking at the whole process that precedes the election, we realize some inability to articulates that could bring a North, a totally different course. President Ednaldo has been maintaining an interlocution with the clubs, the federations. He is a very affordable president,” said the colorado leader.
CEO of Botafogo’s SAF, John Texor also publicly expressed his support for reelection. Ednaldo even sued Textor in 2023 on charges of manipulation in Brazilian football without proof. Now, in a note in which he declared his support for reelection, the American said that, when he got to know the president of the CBF better, he realized that “many of his views coincide with our ideas and ambitions in Botafogo.”
“I am happy to inform that the change can come from within, and this change is certainly coming to the CBF, for the benefit of all of us who love Brazil football,” said Texor.
Ednaldo assumes his second term with the commitment made to the clubs of greater transparency and participation in the management and support for the creation of a Brazilian Football League.
Use of the Brazilian National Team in the management Ednaldo Rodrigues
From Aug.2021 (Tite)
5 wins, 2 draws (81%use)
2022 (Tite)
10 wins, 2 draws*, 1 loss (82%use)
*Draw with Croatia in the World Cup in normal time; penalty kick
2023 (Ramon Menezes/Fernando Diniz)
3 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses (37%use)
2024 (Dorival Junior)
6 wins, 7 draws, 1 loss (59.5%use)
2025 (Dorival Junior)
1 victory (100%use)
Total
25 wins, 12 draws, 7 losses (66%use)
X-ray | Ednaldo Rodrigues, 71
1954, Vitória da Conquista (BA). CBF President since August 2021, is the first black and northeastern in office. He commanded for almost two decades to the Bahian Football Federation. He was vice president of CBF between 2018 and 2021.
