Cruzeiro turn 105, return to Libertadores, shine in Brazil | OneFootball

January 2nd marks a historic date for Cruzeiro. The club celebrates its 105th anniversary in a context of sporting affirmation and, primarily, professional restructuring after years of instability and problems stemming from poor management. Founded in 1921, the club reaches its anniversary once again among the protagonists on the national scene.

The 2025 season represented a significant point in this process. Cruzeiro finished the Brazilian Championship in third place, securing a direct spot in the group stage of the Libertadores, a result that confirmed the improvement in performance compared to previous years and reinforced the consolidation of the ongoing sports project. Additionally, they were very close to reaching another final of the Copa do Brasil, being eliminated by Corinthians in penalties.

With the departure of Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim at the end of the season, the club opted for a change in technical command by hiring Tite, a coach with experience and a successful history at Corinthians and a good track record with the Brazilian National Team, where he participated in two World Cups. The choice signals the management's intention to elevate the team's competitive level, combining experience with a plan that includes maintaining the core of the squad and making targeted reinforcements, within the established financial conditions.

With the acquisition of the club's SAF by businessman Pedro Lourenço in 2024, Cruzeiro was able to accelerate the process of returning to competitiveness, and the main challenge will be to keep financial conditions aligned with a solid sports plan, which had been outlined with Leonardo Jardim. The departure of the Portuguese coach represents an additional challenge for the club to stay on this path and, thus, be able to repeat great achievements from its past rich in victories.

As it turns 105 years old, Cruzeiro is experiencing a moment of administrative stability, with greater budget predictability and clearer sports goals. The club enters 2026 facing new challenges, especially on the continental stage, seeking to transform the reconstruction process into consistent results, without losing sight of sustainability in the medium and long term.

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