Pedro Caixinha

Football career

Portugal

After an unassuming career as a player, Beja-born Caixinha started managing at the age of 28, his first appointment being with his last club, hometown's C.D. Beja, where he was in charge of his youth sides for four years. In 2003, he moved to the seniors with amateurs C.F. Vasco da Gama Vidigueira.

After that sole season, Caixinha started a professional relationship with José Peseiro that would last until the end of the decade, with the former acting as assistant to the latter in several clubs – mainly Sporting CP – and the Saudi Arabia national team. In the 2010–11 season he returned to head coaching duties and made his Primeira Liga debut, leading U.D. Leiria to the tenth position.

Caixinha resigned only one month into the following campaign, amidst rumours of several months due in wages to both him and the players. He quickly signed for fellow top-division C.D. Nacional, helping the Madeirans to rank seventh after winning ten of his 21 games in charge.

On 11 October 2012, Caixinha resigned after only picking up five points from six league matches, which left the side placed second-bottom in the league.

Santos Laguna

Late into October 2012, Caixinha accepted an offer from Mexico's Santos Laguna. In his first national tournament, he qualified the team for the Clausura Liguilla in the Liga MX and also reached the final of the region's most important club competition, the CONCACAF Champions League.

Caixinha left on 15 August 2015, after winning three major titles.

Rangers

On 11 March 2017, Caixinha joined Scottish Premiership club Rangers on a three-year deal, becoming its 15th permanent manager in the process; caretaker Graeme Murty took control of an Old Firm game played the following day, with Caixinha starting work on 13 March. His debut came five days later, in a 4–0 home win against Hamilton Academical.

Caixinha was on the bench on 29 April 2017, during a record 1–5 home defeat for the club against Celtic. On 17 May they lost to Aberdeen at Ibrox for the first time in 26 years, eventually finishing in third place 39 points behind champions Celtic.

To kickstart 2017–18, Caixinha oversaw Rangers in the club's first European campaign in eight years, as they entered the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League and faced Luxembourg's FC Progrès Niederkorn, winning 1–0 at home but losing 2–0 away in the reverse fixture against a team that had previously never won a match, and scored only one goal, in European competition. Later that season, he led the side past both Dunfermline Athletic and Partick Thistle in the knockout stages of the Scottish League Cup, before succumbing to a 2–0 defeat at Hampden to Motherwell in the semi-final; the game saw both him and opposing manager Stephen Robinson sent to the stands for their behaviour on the touchline.

On 26 October 2017, after a 1–1 home draw with last-placed Kilmarnock, Caixinha was sacked by Rangers after only 229 days in charge, becoming the shortest-serving manager in the history of the club. His reign was described as "a desperate mess from start to finish", by BBC Scotland's Tom English.

Cruz Azul

On 5 December 2017, Cruz Azul announced the appointment of Caixinha for the upcoming Clausura tournament. His team won the Copa MX in Apertura 2018, with a 2–1 final win over C.F. Monterrey on 31 October. In the same stage, they also reached the league final, where they lost 2–0 on aggregate to Mexico City rival Club América.

Caixinha added another honour on 14 July 2019, winning the Supercopa MX with a 4–0 defeat of Club Necaxa in Los Angeles. In the year's Apertura the side won just twice in the opening eight games, and he resigned on 2 September following a 1–1 draw with C.D. Guadalajara.

Al Shabab

On 20 July 2020, Caixinha signed a two-year contract with Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab Club. The following 5 January, he was dismissed after being ousted from the Arab Club Champions Cup.

Return to Santos Laguna

In December 2021, Caixinha returned to Santos Laguna ahead of the Clausura tournament. He was removed from his post on 24 February after winning one of his eight fixtures, the first leg of a Champions League last 16 elimination by CF Montréal.

Talleres

On 25 March 2022, Caixinha agreed to be the manager of Talleres de Córdoba for the Argentine Primera División season, becoming the first Portuguese to work in the country. He was heavily criticised by pundit Pablo Carrozza for wearing the club kit at his first press conference and promising to not remove it for the duration of his contract, and lost 2–1 on his debut at Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.

Caixinha's offer to resign was accepted on 5 September 2022, having won three and lost seven of 16 games for La T, who were ranked 24th of 28. In the Copa Libertadores, he took the team through the group stage and to the last 16 for the first time in their history, where they defeated compatriots Club Atlético Colón 3–1 on aggregate.

Red Bull Bragantino

On 10 December 2022, Caixinha switched countries again after being announced as the new head coach of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Red Bull Bragantino. On his debut on 15 January, his team won 1–0 at home to São Paulo FC on the first day of the Campeonato Paulista; they ended the state league season in third place after a penalty shootout elimination by Esporte Clube Água Santa, and finished sixth in the overall league, qualifying for the Libertadores second stage.

Caixinha agreed to a two-year extension in December 2023. The following 27 October, however, he was dismissed after seven winless matches.

Santos

On 23 December 2024, Caixinha was announced as new head coach of Santos FC by new CEO Pedro Martins. He won his first game in charge, defeating Mirassol Futebol Clube 2–1 in the Paulista League opener.

Caixinha was sacked on 14 April 2025, after a winless start to the national championship.

Juárez

Caixinha returned to the Mexican top division on 4 December 2025, being appointed at FC Juárez on a one-year contract.

Managerial statistics

!W !D !L !GF !GA !GD !Win %

Honours

Manager

Santos Laguna

• Liga MX: Clausura 2015
• Copa MX: Apertura 2014
• Campeón de Campeones: 2015

Cruz Azul

• Copa MX: Apertura 2018
• Supercopa MX: 2019

Individual

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Manager of the Month: September 2023, October 2023

References

References

1. {{WorldFootball.net. pedro-caixinha
2. (29 March 2022). "Pedro Caixinha assina pelos argentinos do Talleres". Correio Alentejo.
3. Waddell, Gordon. (9 January 2011). "Jose Mourinho told me to come to Scotland if I wanted to be a better boss, says Pedro Caixinha". [[Daily Record (Scotland).
4. (7 September 2011). "Pedro Caixinha deixa União de Leiria". [[Diário de Notícias]].
5. Kundert, Tom. (26 September 2011). "Uniao de Leiria swap coaches... again". PortuGOAL.
6. Nunes, Luís Miguel. (9 December 2011). "João Bartolomeu: "Se não conseguirmos pagar aos jogadores, paciência"". Relvado.
7. (28 October 2011). "Rui Alves: "Primeiro temos de recuperar os jogadores"". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
8. Travassos, Nuno. (12 May 2012). "Caixinha agradece despedimento a Bartolomeu". Mais Futebol.
9. (11 October 2012). "Pedro Caixinha sai e Machado deve voltar". [[A Bola]].
10. (28 October 2012). "Pedro Caixinha vai treinar o campeão Santos Laguna". A Bola.
11. (6 May 2013). "Pedro Caixinha apurado para a fase final da Liga no Mexico". Record.
12. (10 April 2013). "Pedro Caixinha na final da Champions da CONCACAF". Record.
13. (2 May 2013). "Monterrey 4–2 Santos Laguna: Rayados jugará su tercer Mundial de Clubes". [[Goal (website).
14. (15 August 2015). "Renuncia Pedro Caixinha". Jefes.
15. (17 August 2015). "Caixinha deja un Santos Laguna distinto". [[El Siglo de Torreón]].
16. (11 March 2017). "Caixinha confirmed as manager". Rangers F.C.
17. (12 March 2017). "Celtic 1–1 Rangers: Caretaker Graeme Murty thinks players answered their critics". [[BBC Sport]].
18. (18 March 2017). "Rangers 4–0 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport.
19. (29 April 2017). "Rangers 4–0 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport.
20. (17 May 2017). "Rangers 1–2 Aberdeen". BBC Sport.
21. Cambridge, James. (17 May 2017). "Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha must sign these players, claims former striker Mark Hateley". [[Daily Express]].
22. Newport, Andy. (21 May 2017). "Pedro Caixinha: I love to make Rangers fans happy". [[The Scotsman]].
23. (4 July 2017). "Progrès Niederkorn 2–0 Rangers". BBC Sport.
24. McVake, Roddie. (22 October 2017). "Rangers 0–2 Motherwell". BBC Sport.
25. (26 October 2017). "Rangers: Pedro Caixinha sacked as manager after board meeting". BBC Sport.
26. Arnold, Jon. (5 December 2017). "Cruz Azul announces Pedro Caixinha as new head coach". Goal.
27. Arnold, Jon. (1 November 2018). "Copa MX final: Cruz Azul beats Monterrey to lift cup". Goal.
28. Marshall, Tom. (19 December 2018). "How Club America's record Liga MX title, Cruz Azul's latest loss gripped Mexico City". [[ESPN]].
29. (15 July 2019). "Cruz Azul, de Pedro Caixinha, conquista Supertaça do México". Record.
30. Marshall, Tom. (2 September 2019). "Portuguese coach Caixinha leaves Cruz Azul". ESPN.
31. (21 July 2020). "Caixinha to coach Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab". [[Asian Football Confederation]].
32. Vetere, Tomás. (5 January 2021). "Al-Shabab despidió a Pedro Caixinha tras la eliminación en la Copa de Arabia Saudita". Bola Vip.
33. (6 January 2021). "الشباب يقيل كايشينيا". [[AlRiyadiya]].
34. (1 December 2021). "Pedro Caixinha regressa ao comando técnico do Santos Laguna". Record.
35. (24 February 2022). "OFICIAL: Pedro Caixinha despedido do Santos Laguna". Mais Futebol.
36. (26 March 2022). "Pela primeira vez há um treinador português na Argentina: Pedro Caixinha foi confirmado no Talleres". [[Expresso (newspaper).
37. Walker, Mark. (5 April 2022). "Pedro Caixinha branded 'a professional liar' as ex Rangers boss hammered for bizarre strip stunt". Daily Record.
38. Panfil, Alejandro. (5 September 2022). "Pedro Caixinha deixa de ser treinador do Talleres". Record.
39. Silva, Flávio Miguel. (7 July 2022). "Palmeiras de Abel mantém-se na luta pelo 'tri' e Pedro Caixinha volta a fazer história pelo Talleres". Record.
40. (10 December 2022). "Português Pedro Caixinha é o novo técnico do Red Bull Bragantino". Red Bull Bragantino.
41. (15 January 2023). "Pedro Caixinha celebra início de trabalho com vitória no Bragantino: 'De parabéns, mas queremos mais'". [[TV Globo#Programming.
42. (21 March 2023). "Bragantino, treinado por Caixinha, eliminado nas "meias" do campeonato paulista". [[O Jogo]].
43. (22 December 2023). "OFICIAL: Pedro Caixinha renova pelo Bragantino". Mais Futebol.
44. (22 December 2023). "Red Bull Bragantino renova contrato do técnico Pedro Caixinha até 2025". Red Bull Bragantino.
45. (27 October 2024). "Pedro Caixinha não é mais técnico do Red Bull Bragantino". Red Bull Bragantino.
46. Gutierrez, Bruno. (23 December 2024). "Santos anuncia Pedro Caixinha como novo técnico". Globo Esporte.
47. Querino, Régis. (16 January 2025). "Santos bate o Mirassol na estreia do Paulistão e de Pedro Caixinha na Vila". A Tribuna.
48. Maradei, Fábio. (14 April 2025). "Pedro Caixinha deixa o comando técnico do Santos FC". Santos FC.
49. (5 December 2025). "¡Oficial! Pedro Caixinha es nuevo entrenador de FC Juárez". [[Olé (sports newspaper).
50. {{soccerway coach. pedro-caixinha/141728/
51. "Ficha cuerpo técnico". [[Liga MX]].
52. (10 July 2010). ""Pedro Caixinha é a pessoa indicada" – João Bartolomeu". A Bola.
53. Paulo, Joaquim. (7 September 2011). "Pedro Caixinha despedido". Record.
54. (31 October 2011). "Caixinha apresentado amanhã". A Bola.
55. (20 November 2012). "Pedro Caixinha assina contrato com o campeão mexicano de futebol". [[SAPO (company).
56. Marshall, Tom. (15 August 2015). "Pedro Caixinha resigns as Santos Laguna manager". [[ESPN FC]].
57. (30 December 2015). "Pedro Caixinha assume comando técnico do Al-Gharafa, do Qatar". [[Observador]].
58. (9 March 2017). "Pedro Caixinha sai do Al-Gharafa para treinar o Rangers". SAPO.
59. (13 October 2023). "Pedro Caixinha eleito o melhor treinador do mês no Brasileirão". Record.
60. (9 November 2023). "Pela segunda vez consecutiva, Pedro Caixinha é eleito o treinador do mês do Brasileirão". Globo Esporte.