Benfica women’s futsal staff reshuffle after coach-club rift as key fixtures loom | OneFootball

Benfica’s women’s futsal set-up has undergone a late-season shake-up, days before decisive cup and league fixtures. According to Glorioso 1904, long-running tensions between head coach Paulinho Roxo and the club’s hierarchy triggered changes to the backroom team.

The team are preparing for the Taça de Portugal final four, where they will face Braga in the semi-finals, while also pursuing the league title against Atlético in the play-off semi-finals.

The instability stems from disagreements over squad building between Roxo, a Brazilian coach, and a Benfica structure led by Raul Moreira and Rita Martins, issues that have rumbled on throughout the campaign.

The situation escalated recently when Roxo made clear that either the technical staff changed immediately or he would step down at a decisive point, prompting the board to act on the departures of Fábio Jerónimo, Maria Jacinto and Pedro Canelas.

In response, Benfica promoted Thiago Saldanha, Francisco Lima and Jander in an internal reshuffle. The overhaul also precedes a change projected for 2025/26, with Maria Martins, currently with Atlético, touted as a possible successor to Roxo.

The former player took charge of the Tapadinha club’s women’s side in 2021/22 and, last season, ended Benfica’s dominance by knocking out the seven-time reigning champions in the play-off quarter-finals.

Source: Glorioso 1904