Mano Menezes

Early life and playing career

Menezes was born in Passo do Sobrado, Rio Grande do Sul, and started playing football at amateur hometown side EC Rosário, a club which his father was president at the time; initially a forward, he was later sent back to the midfield before establishing himself as a centre-back. He subsequently played for local sides Fluminense de Mato Leitão and Guarani de Venâncio Aires, helping the latter to win the 1988 and playing in the Campeonato Gaúcho Segunda Divisão in the following years. After three more years playing, he retired to become a coach.

Coaching career

Early years

After retiring, Menezes was an assistant of Guarani's under-20 team in 1992, He was named head coach of the first team ahead of the 1997 season, but was sacked and spent a period of observation with Paulo Autuori at Cruzeiro; he returned to Guarani in 1999, being again dismissed.

In 2000, Menezes was named coach of Internacional's under-17 team, and returned to Guarani in 2002 after a short period with Inter's under-20 team. He led the club to the first position in the second round of the 2002 Campeonato Gaúcho and to the subsequent final win over São Gabriel; the title, however, was given to Internacional after a final stage was introduced. He later had a short spell at Brasil de Pelotas in the second division of the Gauchão.

Menezes returned to Guarani for a fourth spell as head coach in 2003, but left after having altercations with the squad. He then spent three months in charge of Iraty, as the club finished last of their group in the 2003 Série C.

15 de Novembro and Caxias

Ahead of the 2004 season, Menezes was named head coach of 15 de Novembro. He led the club to the semifinals of the 2004 Copa do Brasil, defeating Vasco da Gama in the process, and subsequently took over Série B side Caxias in June of that year.

Grêmio

On 22 April 2005, Menezes named head coach of Grêmio in the second division. He led the club to a promotion to the Série A as champions in a match that became known as Batalha dos Aflitos, and also won the 2006 Campeonato Gaúcho with the club.

Menezes qualified the Tricolor to the 2007 Copa Libertadores, where they lost the finals to Boca Juniors. He also won the year's Gauchão before announcing that he would depart the club at the end of the season on 28 November 2007.

Corinthians

On 4 December 2007, Menezes agreed to become head coach of Corinthians for the upcoming campaign. In his first year, he led the club to the Copa do Brasil finals, losing to Sport Recife, and achieved promotion from division two, again as champions.

In the 2009 season, Menezes' side lifted the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa do Brasil, qualifying the club to the 2010 Copa Libertadores. On 2 July of that year, he renewed his contract until the end of 2010.

Brazil national team

On 24 July 2010, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced that Menezes would replace Dunga as head coach of the Brazil national team. His appointment was generally well received, although some pointed out that his favoured playing style resembled Dunga's defensive style. He coached his first Brazil match on 10 August, a 2–0 win against the United States, where he introduced new players such as Diego Tardelli, André and David Luiz, and with only four players that had participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa: Dani Alves, Ramires, Thiago Silva and Robinho, as well as 2010 World Cup cuts Alexandre Pato, Marcelo and Neymar.

At the 2011 Copa América, Brazil went out in the quarter-finals on penalties to Paraguay after a 0–0 draw, with Brazil missing all the four of its penalties. He was also the coach of the Olympic team at London 2012, hoping to win the long-awaited gold medal for Brazil, the only accolade Brazil had not won in football. However, they were defeated by Mexico in the Olympic final and Menezes was the target of criticism in Brazil.

Following disappointing results, Menezes was sacked on 23 November 2012.

Flamengo

On 13 June 2013, Menezes was named as the new head coach of Flamengo. On 19 September, he resigned following a 4–2 home loss to Atlético Paranaense.

Corinthians return

On 11 December 2013, Menezes returned to Corinthians in the place of Tite. After helping the club to a fourth-place league finish, as well as qualifying to the Copa Libertadores, he resigned on 6 December 2014, being subsequently succeeded by his antecessor Tite.

Cruzeiro

On 1 September 2015, after nine months without a club, Menezes was named Cruzeiro head coach. He led the side on 15 matches, with only one loss, but left on 6 December after Chinese club Shandong Luneng Taishan paid his R$ 7 million release clause.

Shandong Luneng

Menezes was presented at Shandong Luneng Taishan of the Chinese Super League on 12 December 2015. On 21 April of the following year, with a 1–0 victory over Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the club returned to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League after an 11-year absence, with one round of the group stage in advance.

On 25 May 2016, Shandong Luneng defeated Sydney FC, entering the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League, which was the best result for the team in the ACL. In contrast to the excellent performance in continental competition, Shandong fell into the relegation zone in domestic league. On 7 June 2016, the club announced that Menezes had resigned for personal reasons and he was no longer the manager of the team. He was replaced by former FC Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg manager Felix Magath.

Cruzeiro return

On 26 July 2016, Menezes was announced back at Cruzeiro. He won the 2017 and 2018 editions of the national cup, and the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Campeonato Mineiro with the club.

On 8 August 2019, Menezes was sacked from the Raposa; the club ultimately suffered relegation at the end of the season.

Palmeiras

On 3 September 2019, Menezes was announced at Palmeiras on a contract until December 2021; his signature was widely rejected by the club's supporters due to his identification with their rivals Corinthians. He debuted fifteen days later, with a win over Goiás.

On 1 December 2019, Menezes was dismissed from Verdão following a loss to Flamengo.

Bahia

On 8 September 2020, Menezes was named head coach of Bahia in the top tier, agreeing to a contract until the end of 2021. On 20 December, after a 3–4 away loss against former side Flamengo, he was sacked.

Al Nassr

On 9 April 2021, Menezes was appointed as the manager of Saudi club Al Nassr. On 19 September 2021, he was sacked after a 1–3 loss against Ittihad.

Internacional

On 19 April 2022, Menezes was appointed head coach of Internacional back in his home country. He was sacked on 17 July of the following year, after a 0–0 draw against Palmeiras.

Third spell at Corinthians

On 28 September 2023, Menezes returned to Corinthians, replacing sacked Vanderlei Luxemburgo. He was himself dismissed on 5 February of the following year, after a 3–1 defeat to Novorizontino which saw the club drop into the relegation zone of the 2024 Campeonato Paulista.

Fluminense

On 1 July 2024, Menezes was named head coach of Fluminense until the end of the year. He managed to avoid relegation with the side, but was dismissed on 30 March of the following year, after a 2–0 defeat to Fortaleza on the opening round of the 2025 Série A.

Grêmio return

On 21 April 2025, Menezes was announced as head coach of Grêmio on a contract until the end of the year; the announcement occurred exactly 20 years after the beginning of his first spell. On 9 December, the club announced his departure.

Peru

On 29 January 2026, Menezes was appointed as head coach of the Peru national team on a four-year contract.

Managerial statistics

Honors

;Grêmio

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2005
• Campeonato Gaúcho: 2006, 2007
• Recopa Gaúcha: 2025

;Corinthians

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2008
• Campeonato Paulista: 2009
• Copa do Brasil: 2009

;Cruzeiro

• Copa do Brasil: 2017, 2018
• Campeonato Mineiro: 2018, 2019

;Brazil

• Superclásico de las Américas: 2011 and 2012

References

References

1. Carranza, Emilio. (2026-01-29). "¡Mano Menezes es el elegido! FPF presentará al brasileño como nuevo DT de la selección peruana".
2. (27 July 2010). "Mano Menezes já fala em ganhar a Copa do Mundo de 2014". ClicRN.
3. (29 June 2009). "Zagueiro do presidente, Mano Menezes abreviou carreira no campo por limitação". Mano Menezes.
4. "Que fim levou? – Mano Menezes". Terceiro Tempo.
5. (24 July 2010). "Amigos apontam Mano esforçado como jogador e competente como técnico". [[Universo Online.
6. (4 April 2021). "Mano Menezes: De jogador e técnico do Guarani de Venâncio Aires à Seleção Brasileira". Peleia FC.
7. (10 August 2010). "O lado B da carreira de Mano Menezes". [[ESPN Brasil]].
8. (30 June 2009). "Amigo cartola demitiu Mano três vezes...". [[Grupo Globo.
9. (2 September 2018). "Mano Menezes treinou Inter após 'seletiva' e guarda mágoa de ex-presidente". [[Universo Online.
10. (20 April 2022). "Formador de jogadores e bom relacionamento: como foi a passagem de Mano Menezes na base do Inter". Gaúcha ZH.
11. (7 September 2019). "Guarani: do calvário à glória". Folha do Mate.
12. (12 May 2022). "Há 20 anos, a maior glória do Guarani". Folha do Mate.
13. (15 June 2013). "Vestir rubro-negro não é novidade para Mano, campeão pelo Guarani-RS". [[Grupo Globo.
14. (1 August 2010). "Um Mano que não existe". [[Folha de S.Paulo]].
15. (7 August 2010). "O último fracasso". [[Gazeta do Povo]].
16. (25 July 2010). "Mano Menezes tem boas lembranças no tempo do Iraty". Tribuna PR.
17. (19 April 2022). "Do 15 de Novembro à Seleção Brasileira: relembre a trajetória de Mano Menezes". RDC TV.
18. (29 June 2004). "Londrina-PR e Caxias-RS: choque de desesperados". Gazeta Digital.
19. (22 April 2005). "Grêmio anuncia Mano Menezes como novo técnico". [[Folha de S.Paulo]].
20. (28 November 2007). "É oficial: Mano deixa o Grêmio". [[Grupo Globo.
21. (4 December 2007). "Corinthians acerta com o técnico Mano Menezes para 2008". [[Universo Online.
22. (2 July 2009). "Mano renova com Corinthians até o final de 2010". [[Terra (company).
23. (24 July 2010). "Brazil name Dunga's replacement as they rebuild for the next World Cup". Guardian.
24. "Meet Mano Menezes the new Brazil coach".
25. (11 August 2010). "Menezes' Brazil start with impressive victory". Zonalmarking.net.
26. (18 May 2011). "Brazil lose out to Paraguay after missing four penalties in shoot-out". Guardian.
27. (5 March 2012). "London 2012 Olympics: Brazil coach Mano Menezes targets first football gold medal". The Daily Telegraph.
28. "Brazil legend Romario criticizes Mano Menezes for Olympic failure | Goal.com".
29. (23 November 2012). "Mano deixa o comando da Seleção: CBF anunciará substituto em janeiro". Globoesporte.com.
30. (23 November 2012). "Mano Menezes sacked as Brazil coach". Goal.com.
31. (24 November 2012). "Brazil sack Mano Menezes as football bosses flex their muscles". BBC Sport.
32. (24 November 2012). "Brazil sack coach Mano Menezes". ESPN.
33. (14 June 2013). "Former Brazil coach Mano Menezes to coach Flamengo". Sports Illustrated.
34. (19 September 2013). "Mano pede demissão no Flamengo". [[Grupo Globo.
35. (11 December 2013). "Mano Menezes é o novo técnico do Corinthians". SC Corinthians Paulista.
36. "Soccer-Mano Menezes resigns as Corinthians coach".
37. (1 September 2015). "Diretoria do Cruzeiro acerta com Mano Menezes para comandar o time". [[Grupo Globo.
38. (6 December 2015). "Cruzeiro confirma a saída do treinador Mano Menezes". [[Terra (company).
39. (12 December 2015). "Mano Menezes é apresentado na China e ganha até presente de torcedores". [[Universo Online.
40. "鲁能泰山-官方公告".
41. "马加特加盟鲁能泰山足球俱乐部".
42. (26 July 2016). "Técnico Mano Menezes está de volta ao comando do Cruzeiro: "Honra"". [[Grupo Globo.
43. (8 August 2019). "Mano Menezes deixa o Cruzeiro após derrota para o Internacional na semifinal da Copa do Brasil". [[Grupo Globo.
44. (3 September 2019). "Palmeiras anuncia a contratação do técnico Mano Menezes". [[Grupo Globo.
45. (18 October 2022). "‘Não deveria ter ido’: relembre a passagem conturbada de Mano Menezes pelo Palmeiras". [[Lance!]].
46. (1 December 2019). "Mano é demitido do Palmeiras". [[Grupo Globo.
47. "Bahia acerta com Mano Menezes, e treinador vai assinar até dezembro de 2021".
48. (20 December 2020). "Comunicado". EC Bahia.
49. (9 April 2021). "Mano Menezes é anunciado no Al Nassr, da Arábia Saudita".
50. (19 April 2022). "Mano Menezes é o novo técnico do Inter". SC Internacional.
51. (17 July 2023). "Mano Menezes deixa o comando técnico do Inter". SC Internacional.
52. (28 September 2023). "Mano Menezes retorna ao comando técnico do Corinthians". SC Corinthians Paulista.
53. (5 February 2024). "Mano Menezes deixa o cargo de técnico do Corinthians". SC Corinthians Paulista.
54. (1 July 2024). "Mano Menezes é o novo técnico do Fluminense". Fluminense FC.
55. (30 March 2025). "Nota oficial - Mano Menezes". Fluminense FC.
56. (21 April 2025). "Grêmio anuncia contratação de Mano Menezes exatamente 20 anos após primeira passagem". [[Grupo Globo.
57. (9 December 2025). "Comunicado - Mano Menezes". Grêmio FBPA.
58. (29 January 2026). "LA FPF ANUNCIA A 'MANO' MENEZES COMO DT DE LA BICOLOR ABSOLUTA". Peruvian Football Federation.