Fortaleza resigned, this Monday (14), coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda. The announcement was made through social networks.
Vojvoda had taken office in May 2021 and was the second longest coach of the clubs of the Brazilian Championship, behind only from Abel Ferreira, from Palmeiras – in the club since October 2020. Rogério Ceni, hired by Bahia in September 2023, becomes the second.
The fuse for dismissal was the 1-0 defeat to rival Ceará on Sunday (13) for the 13th round of Serie A. Fortaleza completed nine games without winning, six straight losses. Lion do Pici is in 18th place, inside the relegation zone, with ten points.
The bad results this year were pressing the Argentine coach. In June, with the club in crisis, the board even said that the coach would meet his contract by the end of this year.
The resignation ends the passage of the one that is considered “the greatest technician in the history of the club.” In addition to breaking taboos and won titles, he marked the fact that he followed in Fortaleza even though he was desired by other clubs in the country. In 2024, by announcing the renewal of the contract with the Argentine, the team quoted “love, respect, loyalty and always believing” as brands of “Era Vojvoda”.
“We decided it is time to end this extremely victorious cycle. Vojvoda helped turn Fortaleza and Ceará football. He won titles and led us to international competitions. And also won the support of the fan with seriousness, ethics and work. However, football demands difficult decisions and we understand that it is time to promote a necessary change,” said the club’s CEO Marcelo Paz.
“Everything has time to start and end. From now on, let’s go after a new coach, a winning profile that starts a victorious cycle at the club too,” said Sergio Papelin, Fortaleza’s soccer director.
In addition to the Argentine coach, Fortaleza leaves technical assistants Nahuel Martínez and Gastón Liendo, physical trainer Luís Azpiazu, psychologist Christian Rodríguez and goalkeeper coach Santiago Piccinini.
“There were 310 official games, five titles won and historic campaigns in national and international competitions, leaving his legacy as the greatest coach in Fortaleza’s history. Vojvoda leaves the Leão do Pici in his fifth season with 145 wins, 77 draws and 88 losses,” says Fortaleza, by note.
The club also stressed that the coach was “three -time Cearense champion of 2021, 2022 and 2023, winning the unprecedented five -time championship [do clube]besides being two -time champion of the Northeast Cup [em] 2022 e 2024”.
Under the command of Vojvoda, Fortaleza was twice inside the G4 of the Brazilian Championship, disputed three times Libertadores and was runner-up of the South American Cup, losing on penalties to Ecuador’s LDU in 2023.
Vojvoda in Fortaleza
- 310 games
- 145 wins
- 77 tie
- 88 defeats
- Three -time Cearense (2021, 2022 and 2023)
- Two -time of the Northeast Cup (2022 and 2024)
- Runner-up from Sul-American (2023)
- 3rd place in the Brazilian Cup (2021)
