“Priority”: Pedro Emanuel takes over Vasco, sends Brasileirão warning

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Papo na Colina

·13 July 2026

“Priority”: Pedro Emanuel takes over Vasco, sends Brasileirão warning

Vasco officially introduced Portuguese coach Pedro Emanuel on Monday afternoon as the new manager of the professional team. The 51-year-old coach, who recently ended his stint with Al-Fayha in Saudi Arabia, arrives in Rio de Janeiro with the mission of restructuring the team’s technical performance. The board expects the coach to make his official debut on the touchline as early as next Thursday, in the match against Vitória, in a Brazilian Championship fixture.

In his first remarks during the presentation press conference alongside executive director Admar Lopes, the manager showed that he is aware of the scale of the responsibility on the national stage. Portuguese coach Pedro Emanuel highlighted the institutional weight of his new club and the international impact of the move:

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“Without a doubt, I know the Brazilian Championship because of the quality of the players and because it is one of the best competitions in the world. I spoke with coaches who have worked in the league, and they are a great reference because they have a history of success. That is what we intend as a coaching staff. It is a big challenge because this is a big club, but it is not just a big club in Brazil. In Portugal, many people spoke to me as soon as the news came out.”

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Coaching staff and behind the scenes of the deal at Vasco

To support the tactical project and speed up the transition in the team’s daily routine, the new coach brought a full coaching staff to work at the CT Moacyr Barbosa training ground. Assistant coaches Rui Gomes and Pedro Correia, fitness coach André Galbe, and performance analyst Gil Varajão have arrived in Rio. The group has already started mapping the squad to adjust the first tactical setups in training and correct the most urgent collective flaws.

Talks with the board gained major momentum over the past week, leading to a quick conclusion and the official announcement last Friday. The coach was a free agent and revealed that he turned down financially better offers from Saudi clubs to accept the challenge in Brazil. Portuguese coach Pedro Emanuel said the project presented by the directors weighed heavily in his decision and guaranteed that the legal instability surrounding the SAF was not an obstacle to reaching an agreement.

Pedro Emanuel is introduced at Vasco — Photo: João Guerra/ge

Ambitious mindset and total focus on Série A

The new manager sent a direct message about how he intends to win over the fans:

“We have prepared well for this. I know I am largely unknown to many of you, but we have work to show you, and I want everyone to get to know us through the work we are going to do.”

When analyzing the team’s current situation in the tournament, he showed optimism about a quick turnaround and called for total focus so that Vasco can climb the table and leave the uncomfortable 17th place behind.

“At this moment, the Brasileirão table tells us a lot. The priority is to put Vasco back where it deserves to be. We have to treat the Brasileirão as it deserves. I would not say the situation is delicate; there are only a few points of difference. Vasco’s history is one of achievements, and that has to be part of our essence. That will be our challenge. When I entered this training center, I felt the energy and the greatness of the club. What I found here is very positive. This is the foundation for what is coming,” the coach concluded.

The group is now focused on tactical preparation as they look for a crucial midweek win in the Brasileirão.

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