Nívia de Lima, 44, had a remarkable experience last month. In Chapecoense’s 1-1 draw with Vitória, at Arena Condá, in Chapecó, she became the first woman to act as a technical assistant in a match in the first men’s division of the Brazilian Championship.
“What was going through my head there was to enjoy and enjoy everything that took me there,” he said. “I try not to limit myself to these historic moments, because I have a history within football. My feeling was that I was ready. I tried to make the best of it and thank the club for their trust in my work.”
The Pernambuco native from São Lourenço da Mata tried to treat her achievement naturally. According to her, the treatment received within the Chapecó club has always been positive. “They never judged me for being a woman, but rather for my competence. I see that in the commission and in the athletes,” she said.
She is aware, however, that not everyone has the same openness. Having already had a long journey in football, the professional observed a deep-rooted prejudice and structural barriers that still make life difficult for a woman in football, especially men’s football.
It is not for lack of capacity that there has only been one technical assistant in Series A in history. And for one game. At the time, Nívia, who works at Chapecoense’s youth team, was called to form an interim technical committee between the dismissal of one coach (Gilmar Dal Pozzo) and the arrival of another (Fábio Matias).
“When a man makes a mistake, it’s seen as a bad decision. When it’s a woman, the judgment is often based on gender. I’ve heard comments like ‘what is she doing there?’ or ‘go wash the dishes’. Often, they don’t associate me with a technical role”, he noted.
Nívia has worked in football since 2012 and built her entire career with Chapecoense’s youth teams. She worked as an assistant in different categories – and noticed that many had difficulty accepting her presence – until reaching the position of commander of the under-20 formation.
The Pernambuco native was officially promoted to the position in 2024. In 2025, she reached the final of the Catarinense Championship in the category and directed the alternative professional team used in the Copa Santa Catarina. This year, she became the first woman to win as head coach in the traditional São Paulo Junior Cup, the Copinha.
After a brief experience in the Brazilian Championship, in which he worked as an assistant to Celso Rodrigues, Nívia returned to the under-20 team. And he has also worked as Celso’s assistant in the alternative group competing in the South-Southeast Cup – the main athletes are in the Brazilian Championship.
Data from the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) shows that there are more women becoming coaches. In 2019, 62 participated in courses at the CBF Academy, an arm of the confederation that offers qualification and certification to technicians. The number rose to 318 in 2020 and reached 420 in 2021, with an increase in proportional participation.
FIFA (International Football Federation) announced measures to increase female presence. Starting this season, teams in women’s competitions organized by the entity must have at least two women on the bench, one of whom is the main or assistant coach.
According to the international federation, the requirement – which will apply to the 2027 World Cup, which will take place in Brazil – will be accompanied by investments in training and professional development. At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 of the 32 teams were led by women.
On the national scene, presence is also limited. When the current edition of the Brazilian Championship began, only 2 of the 16 teams had female coaches. If this is how it is in the women’s competition, it is not difficult to imagine how the situation is in the men’s teams.
“There are many qualified women, but the system still needs to make more space. Without opportunities at the base of men’s football, it is difficult to reach higher positions,” said Nívia. “There is the idea that women should only work with female teams, but we can work in any area for which we are prepared.”
