The New Generation of Brazilian Technicians: Training, Style and Barriers

12 months back Diego 7 minutes reading time

Brazilian football, known for its magic and innate talent, is experiencing a moment of transformation behind the scenes.

The new generation of Brazilian coaches is emerging as the protagonist of this renewal, bringing fresh ideas, innovative methods, and a more analytical approach to the sport.

However, this group faces structural and cultural challenges that test its ability to establish itself in the elite of national and international football.

This article delves into the backgrounds of these coaches, explores their tactical styles, and analyzes the barriers that shape their path, offering a critical and current view of the scenario.

The Academic and Globalized Training of New Coaches

Unlike past generations, when many Brazilian coaches rose directly from the field to the bench, today's young managers invest in academic training and international experience.

The CBF Academy, created in 2016, revolutionized teaching standards, aligning Brazil with European standards, with courses that require licenses such as UEFA's PRO.

This change reflects a search for professionalization, with an emphasis on tactics, data analysis and group management.

A notable example is Filipe Luís, former Flamengo and Brazilian National Team full-back, who took over the club in 2024.

Before starting his coaching career, he studied in Europe, interned with renowned coaches and obtained his UEFA PRO license.

His trajectory illustrates how the new generation of Brazilian coaches combines field experience with robust theoretical preparation.

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Another case is Eduardo Coudet, a young coach who, after a stint at Internacional, completed exchanges with Italian clubs, absorbing concepts of positional play and high pressing.

Furthermore, the exchange of knowledge between countries is vital.

Globalized training allows Brazilian coaches to stay up-to-date with the best practices in world football.

Why is globalized training so crucial? Because modern football requires more than intuition.

The globalization of sport has brought an intense exchange of ideas, and Brazilian coaches must compete with foreigners like Abel Ferreira and Jorge Jesus, who introduced European methods to Brazil.

A 2023 CBF survey revealed that 68% of Series A and B coaches have international licenses, a jump from the 42% in 2018.

This data reinforces the impact of professionalization on the new generation.

Table 1: Training of Brazilian Technicians (Series A and B, 2023)

License	Percentage (2018)	Percentage (2023)
UEFA PRO/CBF PRO	42%	68%
National A/B License	58%	32%
Source: CBF Academy, 2023

Tactical Styles: Innovation with Brazilian Roots

The playing style of the new generation of Brazilian coaches is a fusion of the attacking tradition of national football and global tactical trends.

While coaches like Telê Santana prioritized “artistic football,” new names adapt this essence to more organized systems, such as 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3, with an emphasis on quick transitions and high pressing.

Fernando Diniz, although more experienced, is a precursor to this trend, with his "relationship football," which prioritizes ball possession and fluid movement.

A fictional but plausible example would be Lucas Mendes, a 38-year-old coach who manages the fictional Atlântico FC.

Inspired by Jürgen Klopp, he implements aggressive marking in the opponent's half, but maintains creative freedom for his midfielders, reflecting his Brazilian heritage.

His team leads the state with 72% of average ball possession, a statistic that demonstrates Diniz's influence, but with greater defensive intensity.

This hybrid approach faces resistance.

Brazilian clubs, pressured by immediate results, do not always embrace projects that require time to mature.

The analogy is clear: planting an oak seed takes years to harvest a robust tree, but Brazilian football often prefers the rapid growth of a weed.

Coaches like Filipe Luís, however, show that patience can pay off.

In 2024, he led Flamengo to the Copa do Brasil final with a style that combines possession (65% on average) and verticality, winning the fans' trust.

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Table 2: Predominant Tactical Styles (Serie A, 2024)

Tactical Style	Percentage of Teams	Representative Technician
Ball Possession	35%	Fernando Diniz
Rapid Transition	40%	Philip Louis
Low Block/Counterattack	25%	Mano Menezes
Source: Tactical analysis based on reports from the 2024 Brasileirão

Cultural and Structural Barriers

Despite their talent and preparation, the new generation of Brazilian coaches faces significant obstacles.

The culture of immediacy in Brazilian football is a central barrier.

Since 2003, the beginning of the points system in the Brasileirão, the average time a coach stays in the elite is just six months, according to ge.globo.com.

This turnover stifles long-term projects, which are essential for the consolidation of innovative ideas.

Another challenge is the preference for foreign technicians.

In 2023, 65% of Serie A coaches were foreigners at some point in the championship, a historic record.

Names like Abel Ferreira and Juan Vojvoda raised the tactical standard, but overshadowed local talent.

Clubs like Palmeiras and Fortaleza, which invested in foreigners, have reaped titles, while young Brazilians fight for a place in smaller teams.

The lack of opportunities abroad also limits growth.

Unlike players, who shine in European leagues, Brazilian coaches rarely manage major clubs outside the country.

Dorival Júnior, on the Brazilian national team, is an exception, but his inconsistent campaign at the 2024 Copa América raises doubts about his ability to compete globally.

The rhetorical question arises: can't Brazil, the birthplace of stars, export brilliant strategists?

Furthermore, basic training in Brazil lacks investment in coaches.

While European clubs integrate young coaches into their academies, in Brazil, the majority work in precarious conditions, with low wages and little infrastructure.

This creates a vicious cycle: without experience in high-level youth teams, coaches face difficulties in reaching the elite.

The Path to Consolidation

Overcoming these barriers requires collective action.

The CBF must expand access to quality training by offering scholarships to young coaches for international courses.

Clubs need to adopt long-term policies, resisting the temptation to fire coaches after a few defeats.

The media and fans also have a role: to value processes over immediate results.

Filipe Luís is a model of early success.

His transition from the field to the bench, with study and planning, shows that the new generation of Brazilian coaches can compete at a high level.

Another example is the rise of coaches in Serie C, where 87% of the commanders in 2023 were under 45 years old.

Names like Rafael Lacerda, from Amazonas, prove that young talent can flourish in lower divisions, paving the way for Serie A.

Final Reflections: A Promising Future?

The new generation of Brazilian coaches has the potential to redefine national football.

With globalized training, innovative tactical styles, and an analytical mindset, these coaches challenge the status quo.

However, cultural, structural and market barriers require patience and support.

Brazil, which has historically exported brilliant players, now has the chance to develop strategists capable of shining on the global stage.

It's up to the clubs, the CBF, and society to decide whether they will allow this silent revolution to take place on the benches.

Football is a mirror of culture, and the new generation of Brazilian coaches reflects a country seeking a balance between tradition and modernity.

Betting on them is more than just a sporting choice; it's an investment in the future of the sport that beats in the heart of Brazil.

How about we give them the time they need to build a legacy?