Fortaleza gamble on Paiva for instant turnaround | OneFootball

Renato Paiva led his first training session at Fortaleza on Thursday evening as preparations ramped up for his anticipated debut against Bahia this weekend, according to both Diário do Nordeste and Globo. The Portuguese manager arrived in Fortaleza on Thursday afternoon before heading directly to the club’s Pici training ground, where he took charge of a session at 18:00 focused on reversing the team’s recent struggles.

Paiva’s appointment comes quickly on the heels of Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s dismissal, with Fortaleza seeking swift registration with the Brazilian Football Confederation to enable him to be on the touchline for Saturday’s Série A fixture at Arena Castelão, kicking off at 16:00 local time. The official announcement of his arrival is expected imminently, having reached an agreement on Wednesday.

The 55-year-old will need to adapt rapidly under pressure. Fortaleza are currently second from bottom in the league, with just 10 points and a run of poor form that led to Vojvoda’s departure. Since his exit, first-team duties were handled temporarily by assistant Leo Porto, also head coach of the under-20s.

Fortaleza’s immediate challenges extend beyond current form. Paiva begins his tenure with a squad hampered by injuries: Moisés, David Luiz, Bruno Pacheco, João Ricardo, Brenno, and Gustavo Mancha are all in the medical department and unavailable for selection. This leaves options limited as Fortaleza look to stabilise results.

Paiva joins Fortaleza after a brief spell at Botafogo, where he took charge of 23 matches, securing 12 wins, three draws and eight defeats—a win rate of 56.5 percent. His spell in Rio included notable highlights, such as a victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the group phase of the Club World Cup, but ended with a late extra-time defeat by Palmeiras in the last 16.

The Portuguese coach is no stranger to Brazilian football, having also managed Bahia in 2023 across 49 games. His broader managerial experience takes in stints at Benfica, Independiente del Valle in Ecuador, Toluca in Mexico, and León in Mexico.

Fortaleza’s move to appoint Paiva was orchestrated at speed, with the club intent on quick transition as they search for both immediate improvement and longer-term stability. All eyes will be on how Paiva sets up his side at Arena Castelão, with both supporters and club hierarchy eager for a shift in fortunes.