Cris Gambaré rues delays at Corinthians, feared leaving for Brazil | OneFootball

Corinthians women’s team is going through a period of concern behind the scenes financially. The players are owed two months of image rights payments, referring to July and August, in addition to amounts related to title-winning bonuses. Salaries, on the other hand, are still being paid normally, according to information released by Meu Timão.

Cris Gambaré, who led Corinthians women’s football for eight years, said she has already brought the issue to the attention of president Osmar Stabile. Now serving as head of technical coordination for the CBF women’s national teams, the former executive expressed concern about the possible effects the delays could have both internally and on the image of the sport.

Photo: Bruno Teixeira/Corinthians

“This has already been said directly to president Osmar (Stabile), with whom I had a conversation on one occasion at Neo Química (Arena). It’s a huge concern because, in the years when I was in charge there, it’s not that there were never delays in salary, image rights, or even bonuses, but we knew how to handle things in a way that made them a little less impactful, right? There was transparency. Speaking directly with everyone and with them (the athletes). So this will have a complete impact. And it’s not just at Corinthians, but Corinthians, for being a reference, is directly impacted. It pains me,” said the former Timão executive on the PabCast podcast, on the Passa a Bola channel.

The former director led the department between 2016 and 2024 and was directly involved in the consolidation of Corinthians women’s football. The work began in partnership with Osasco Audax and, two years later, came to be managed independently by Corinthians.

Since Gambaré’s departure for the CBF, the department’s structure has been headed by Iris Sesso. Recalling the decision to leave the club, the former executive revealed that she had doubts about abandoning a project that had grown considerably during her tenure: “I did (feel afraid). […] I considered not going so I wouldn’t leave the product, because it is a product. I always fought for it,” she stressed.

The former executive’s departure took place in March 2024, a few months after Arthur Elias left Corinthians to take over the Brazilian women’s national team. The coach was announced for the role in September 2023, after having led the Brabas since the beginning of the project.

Cris Gambaré also shared details about the behind-the-scenes of the change in the coaching staff. According to her, Arthur Elias asked that she later join the national team as well, but the executive decided to remain at Corinthians at that moment to conclude important commitments for the season.

“Actually, when Arthur left, he said: ‘Cris, I need you there (with the national team).’ Arthur went first. I still had, with Corinthians, a Libertadores and a Paulista final. I said: ‘Go, take your seat, I’ll handle things here. I’m going to need to call on you and, together, we’ll make the move,’” she explained.

The director also explained that she found it difficult to quickly define a replacement for Arthur Elias, due to the level of demand and the history of success the coach had built at the club.

“And I could see I was having difficulty finding someone for the staff because, to fill such a successful position, it’s not just anyone who can do it. So I needed to create a movement and I couldn’t make a mistake. That was when I told Arthur: ‘You go. I needed you for the Libertadores, but okay, you’re already there. I need Rodrigo Iglesias (former Corinthians assistant coach) here with me, because I can’t bring in a coach at this moment.’ One day, he calls me and says: ‘I did it. I’ll be with you for the Libertadores, I sorted things out here and I’ll be with you.’ It was their last title,” she continued.

After that season ended, Gambaré chose Lucas Piccinato to take over the team in Arthur Elias’s place. The coach remained in the role until February 2026. Currently, Emily Lima is in charge of Corinthians women’s team.

During her time at the club, Cris Gambaré was part of one of the most successful periods in the Brabas’ history. There were 18 titles won under her management, in addition to work considered important for the professionalization and expansion of the department. The executive also worked to bring the team closer to sponsors and to build a stronger relationship with the fans. During her tenure, Corinthians began using Neo Química Arena more frequently for women’s football matches.

One of the standout moments came in the 2023 Brazilian Championship final. On that occasion, 42,556 fans attended the match against Ferroviária at the stadium, setting at that time the attendance record for women’s football in South America.

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