António Oliveira eyes Corinthians return after Brazil stint

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Central do Timão

·6 January 2026

António Oliveira eyes Corinthians return after Brazil stint

By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Portuguese coach António Oliveira spoke about his recent time away from football, analyzed his journey in Brazil, and commented in detail on his stint at Corinthians. Currently in Lisbon, the coach is experiencing a rare break without professional commitments after five consecutive years working in Brazilian football.

In an interview with ge, the coach talked about leading teams such as Cuiabá, Athletico-PR, Sport, Remo, and Corinthians. António has been taking this time to rest and reconnect with his family, something that, according to him, was not possible due to the intense routine of his profession.

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Photo: Marcos Ribolli

“I’m enjoying something I haven’t done in a long time: spending time with my family, my children, my wife, and being with my parents. It’s always very difficult to be away from home and from those we love. Now I’m thinking about resting and listening to proposals that offer trust to the coach and sustainable projects.”

Even while living in Portugal, the coach does not rule out new challenges abroad. António emphasized that his relationship with Brazilian football happened naturally, without prior planning, and that today he evaluates projects with more specific criteria.

“Given my career, it’s clear that Brazil is on my radar, but it wasn’t premeditated. Things just happened since I arrived at Santos in 2020 (as an assistant). Today, football is global, and I choose projects that trust the coach, have organization, responsibility, and time for things to happen.”, he said.

In recent months, António had brief stints at Sport and Remo. At the Pernambuco club, he led the team in four matches, while at the Pará team he stayed for less than three months. Despite the short duration, he said he does not regret the choices he made.

“At no time do I regret it. I knew the risks. I always took on extremely challenging projects. I did the best I could with the resources and time available. But I am a process-oriented coach, and without stability, there is no growth.”

Commenting on his experience at Sport, António recalled the delicate situation he found when taking over the team, which was at the bottom of the Brazilian Championship. The club ended up being relegated to Série B in 2026.

“The club was extremely unstable, with two points in seven rounds. Emotionally shaken and under natural pressure. There was clear progress, recognized internally, but immediate results were needed, and the schedule weighed heavily.”

The coach also addressed the perception of Portuguese coaches in Brazil, boosted by the success of names like Abel Ferreira and Jorge Jesus. According to António, the recognition opens opportunities but also raises the level of expectations.

“It opens doors, but increases expectations. Not everyone is Abel or Jesus. There are good and bad coaches in both Portugal and Brazil. The Portuguese coach has evolved a lot and, when he adapts quickly to the Brazilian context, usually has longevity.”

Asked about xenophobic statements made by Emerson Leão and Oswaldo de Oliveira, António said he felt uncomfortable but treated the episode as an isolated incident.

“It was an unfortunate and inelegant intervention, but isolated. I was always well received in Brazil, which is part of my life.”

In the Portuguese coach’s assessment, Brazilian football has advanced in terms of structure, but still suffers from management problems in several clubs. For him, the presence of qualified directors is fundamental for the consolidation of long-term work.

“I had two brilliant years at Cuiabá, which for me is a reference in sports and financial management. Palmeiras is another example. The problem with many clubs is the inability to evaluate the process. They change too much, live under external pressure, and look for scapegoats.”

Speaking specifically about Corinthians, António described his time at the club as one of the most remarkable experiences of his career. Hired to replace Mano Menezes, he was the first coach under Augusto Melo’s management.

“Taking over Corinthians was one of the greatest responsibilities in Brazilian football. The club was going through a very unstable period on and off the field. We played organized, competitive football, passed all the knockout rounds, and finished first in the Sudamericana.”

The coach also highlighted his relationship with the alvinegra (black and white) fans and said he hopes to return to Parque São Jorge in the future.

“They have phenomenal, fantastic fans that I learned to love. A fanbase that pushes any coach, any player forward. I have absolute respect for the club, the players, and the fans. I gave everything I had every day and I say very frankly that one day I would like to return.”

During his time at Corinthians, António led the team in 27 matches, with 12 wins, eight draws, and seven losses, achieving a 54% success rate. According to him, off-field factors directly impacted the team's performance.

“The departures of Cássio, Paulinho, and Fagner’s injury weighed heavily. The start of the Brasileirão is very punishing if results don’t come. But I leave with a clear conscience: we built identity and competitiveness.”

The coach also explained the decision to bench Cássio, which preceded the goalkeeper’s departure from the club. According to António, the choice was technical and aimed to protect the player.

“I always wanted to count on Cássio. The decision to take him out was technical, but also to protect him, because he was going through a difficult emotional period. His departure from the club was between him and management.“

Regarding Carlos Miguel, who became the starter during that period, António revealed frustration with the goalkeeper’s departure shortly after.

“He knows he disappointed me. He left me holding the baby. We had agreed he would play the eight matches until the break. But he learned from the mistake, and we have a great relationship.”

António also commented on Corinthians’ current financial and administrative situation, even after winning the Campeonato Paulista and Copa do Brasil in 2025.

“One day the bill was going to come. It’s a giant with tremendous potential, but management mistakes led to a chaotic moment. I hope things stabilize.”

Finally, even away from the pitch, the coach maintains an intense study routine, following games and football trends, especially in Brazil.

“It’s impossible to cut football out. I study the game, different ways to defend, attack, play out from pressure, set pieces. I compile everything that was trained and played. It’s a time for reflection,” he concluded.

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