Muricy Ramalho resigns from São Paulo, Rafinha impresses behind the scenes | OneFootball

Amid the administrative changes at São Paulo, the club's coordination suffered a significant loss. This Friday, the idol Muricy Ramalho resigned from his position as football coordinator, a role he had held for five years.

According to Gazeta Esportiva, Muricy Ramalho informed his departure to the new president, Harry Massis, this Friday. The former coach was away from activities due to knee surgery and would have to undergo another procedure. Given the situation, he claimed he could no longer continue working and chose to leave the Tricolor.

Shortly after, the decision was made official on the club's social media, which published a letter from Muricy addressed to the São Paulo fans. “The intensity that the position demands and the greatness this club deserves is incompatible with what I can offer at this moment. Continuing without being able to give my 100% would not be consistent with the history I built. I leave now to take care of myself, so I can have quality of life alongside my family, who sacrificed so much for me,” he wrote.

As a football coordinator, Muricy was directly involved in the reconstruction process of São Paulo. Despite taking the position during the pandemic, he was involved in assembling the 2021 Paulista champion squad, a title that ended a nearly nine-year drought for the club. In his role, the former coach also won the 2023 Copa do Brasil and the 2024 Supercopa.

Who will replace Muricy?

There are no formal inquiries yet for choosing a new football coordinator for São Paulo. The name of Rafinha, who played for the Tricolor between 2022 and 2024, is favored by president Harry Massis.

There were also rumors about Luiz Cunha, assistant director of professional football at São Paulo between 2005 and 2008, but there is no interest at this moment.

The president of São Paulo wishes to bring in someone from outside. Betting on club advisors to fill the role is not an idea of the leader, according to the report.

While the club has not decided on a new name for the department, executive Rui Costa remains the main person responsible for handling São Paulo's ongoing negotiations.

Other changes

São Paulo also does not intend to bring in a replacement at this moment to fill the position of Márcio Carlomagno, general superintendent who will remain at the club until February 2nd.

Carlomagno was considered one of Julio Casares' main allies behind the scenes at the club. Internally, there was an expectation that the former president would support the then-superintendent in the presidential elections scheduled for the end of this year.

See Muricy Ramalho's farewell letter:

“Tricolor fan,

They say our home is where the heart is. If that's true, I never left this place since the day I first walked through the club's gates, still a boy full of dreams.

Here I was born, grew up, lived, and aged.

I went through every position I could at the club, and whether on the field, in the locker room, or outside it, my motivation was always the same: unconditional love for São Paulo Futebol Clube.

In recent years, I had the pleasure of being in another role: as Technical Coordinator. We had improvements, unprecedented achievements, many emotions, and a lot of work. A behind-the-scenes role, but one that requires living the club 24 hours a day with brutal intensity, invisible to many.

Those who saw me as a player or coach know: I don't know how to do anything halfway, I don't know how to be more or less. Either I give my all, or it doesn't work. My trademarks have always been passion and intensity.

And it is precisely because I love this club too much and respect my essence that I decided to leave. The body has its limits, and mine asked for a break. Health issues, which I tried to manage, now weigh heavily on me.

I also need to take care of myself. I've had four surgeries since the end of the year and still have another scheduled for 2026.

The intensity that the position demands and the greatness this club deserves is incompatible with what I can offer at this moment. Continuing without being able to give my 100% would not be consistent with the history I built.

I leave now to take care of myself, so I can have quality of life alongside my family, who sacrificed so much for me.

I will continue as just another fan, at MorumBIS or outside it, with the gratitude of someone who had the honor of living this dream completely.

Thank you for everything, São Paulo Futebol Clube. Eternally, Muricy Ramalho“.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.