Atlético confirm Cuca exit, interim faces Vitória, hunt for manager | OneFootball

Atlético confirmed, on the morning of this Friday (29), the end of Cuca's fourth stint as the club's technical director. The decision was made official two days after the 2-0 defeat to Cruzeiro, at the MRV Arena, in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil, a result that increased the pressure on the coaching staff and accelerated the change in command.

The meeting that decided the departure included the presence of the football director, Paulo Bracks, manager Victor Bagy, and the coach himself. The understanding was that the performance shown throughout the season did not meet expectations, especially in the Brazilian Championship, where the team has been inconsistent and distanced from the top of the table.

Cuca ends his most recent journey at the club with 47 games: 22 wins, 13 draws, and 12 losses, totaling a 56% success rate. During this period, he won the 2025 Minas Gerais Championship, but failed to transform the team into a national protagonist.

In his farewell, the coach acknowledged the drop in performance, highlighted the difficulties with absences, and made a point of thanking the athletes, directors, and fans.

“I understand the dismissal. I think it is justified by the recent results in the Brazilian Championship. Unfortunately, we lost very important players who we missed a lot. I thank all the players for the fight, dedication, and partnership they had with me, without restrictions! I thank the coaching staff and all the staff. Thanks to Carlos Alberto, Pedro, Victor, and Bracks. To the board, my sincere thanks for the trust. To the fans, a category I include myself in, it leaves a bad feeling. I wanted to be a champion again with them. I had high expectations for the South American Cup. My joy was to make them happy. Nothing erases everything we did together. Galo will always be in my heart and my family's. Thank you all!”

Cuca's stint ends a cycle marked by ups and downs. In his fourth time in charge of Atlético, the coach failed to repeat the success of other seasons, such as in 2013, when he led the club to win the Copa Libertadores, or in 2021, when he was the Brazilian Champion. Even so, his identification with the fans and the recent history of Galo was remembered in the official note released by the club.

Now, the Atlético board turns its attention to the market in search of a new coach. The expectation is for a quick decision, as the team has decisive commitments after the football break for the FIFA date. Galo is in the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil, where it will have to reverse a difficult result, remains alive in the South American Cup, and tries to react in the Brazilian Championship, where the irregular campaign is worrying.

Atlético's next commitment will be in the Brasileirão, against Vitória, in Salvador, next Sunday (31). At the sidelines, the team will be led by interim coach Lucas Gonçalves.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.