Why isn't Cléber Xavier joining Tite at Botafogo? Find out | OneFootball

Tite’s arrival at Botafogo marks another chapter in the coach’s career, but it also draws attention because of a familiar absence from his former coaching staffs. Cléber Xavier, who worked alongside Tite for about 24 years, will not be part of Botafogo’s staff.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that the explanation lies in a change in Cléber Xavier’s professional path. In October 2024, after his work at Flamengo, he ended his partnership with Tite to pursue an opportunity as a head coach.

The decision brought to an end one of the longest-lasting partnerships among coaching staffs in Brazilian football. During that period, Xavier accompanied Tite at clubs such as Grêmio, Corinthians, Atlético-MG, Palmeiras, Internacional, Al Ain, Al-Wahda, and Flamengo.

He also joined the Brazil national team’s staff between 2016 and 2022, taking part in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup cycles. During that period, the duo led Brazil to the 2019 Copa América title.

Cléber Xavier decided to pursue a career as a head coach

The split did not happen because of a conflict between the two professionals. The move was related to Cléber Xavier’s plan to take charge of teams as a coach. His first opportunity came with Santos in 2025.

Cléber Xavier was hired to replace Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha and led the team in 15 matches, with five wins, four draws, and six losses. The stint, however, ended in August of that year.

At the time, Xavier also made it clear that Tite would not be part of his project at Santos. The change cemented the professional separation between the two, even though the partnership built over decades remained an important part of both of their careers.

Cléber Xavier now works in Venezuela

After his spell at Santos, Cléber Xavier received a new opportunity in international football. In January 2026, he was announced as Oswaldo Vizcarrondo’s assistant coach with the Venezuela national team.

The appointment put the Brazilian back in an assistant role, but within a different structure from the one built alongside Tite. The Venezuelan project envisions long-term work focused on the development of the national team.

Cléber Xavier, therefore, was not available to join Tite’s staff at the Lone Star Club. His professional ties are with the Venezuela national team, where he currently serves as an assistant coach.

Matheus Bachi took on a bigger role in Tite’s staff

With the end of his partnership with Cléber Xavier, Tite began working with a different structure. Matheus Bachi, the coach’s son, took on a bigger role as an assistant and was alongside his father in later jobs. That setup was kept at Botafogo.

The staff also includes professionals who have already worked with Tite on other occasions, but without Cléber Xavier’s return. Thus, the former assistant’s absence at Botafogo does not represent a recent split.

The change began in 2024, when Cléber Xavier decided to pursue a coaching career. Since then, the two have taken different paths: Tite returned to managing teams, while Xavier had a spell at Santos and took on a role with Venezuela’s coaching staff.

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