Football Season Guide

Cruzeiro is back to top flight, after a highly convincing league performance in 2022. The team from Minas Gerais had had 2 terrible years that almost brought them down to Série C, but they were back to good terms with their fans finishing 13 points above the closest competition, and are now back to their natural habitat, the top flight league. Cruzeiro was eliminated from Campeonato Mineiro with a humiliating defeat to rivals América, and (0-2 and 1-2 defeats), perhaps proving that they still are some steps away from being on the level of their Série A competitors. 'Raposa's' new coach is the portuguese Pepa, after the Uruguayan Pezzolano surprisingly left in March. Pepa is usually a low profile coach that is used to be an underdog. He is a bit different from the other Portuguese coaches that are working in Brazil: less focused on the tactical side and more on the physical and mental aspects. There were some interesting new signings for current year. The club owned by Ronaldo Nazário brought the talented attacking midfielder Vital from Corinthians and defenders Marlon and Neris who have large European experience. Striker Henrique Dourado is about to sign, as well. There is definitely some safe talents on the squad, like holding midfielders Walisson and Fernando Henrique, or the winger Bruno Rodrigues. However, the most optimistic signs from 'Raposa' are the fact that they are no longer bringing players just for their names and status, like in recent years. There is still some noticeable instability in the way the squad has been built. For instances, the club keeps signing with multiple players, and not everyone is staying: only 5 of the 21 players signed in 2022 are still within the squad. Striker Gilberto and winger Nikão are the players with stronger reputation, but there are hopes that a couple of youngsters can take on the spotlight throughout the season. Ian Luccas, Wesley and Mateus Vital are some candidates.