Fortaleza appoint Boca Juniors legend as new manager | OneFootball

Fortaleza officially announced on Wednesday night the hiring of Martín Palermo as the new coach of the team. A historic idol of Boca Juniors and the top scorer in the history of the Argentine club, the 51-year-old former striker takes over the command of Leão with a contract valid until the end of 2025, with the possibility of renewal for one more season.

He arrives in Brazil accompanied by a complete coaching staff and will be presented in the coming days, during the FIFA break, at the Alcides Santos Center of Excellence.

The announcement of Palermo came one day after the dismissal of Renato Paiva, who could not withstand the negative streak in the Brasileirão. The Portuguese coach had been announced in July, but managed only one win in ten games, leaving Fortaleza in second-to-last place in Série A and eliminated from the Libertadores.

Palermo, in turn, brings with him experience in different leagues across Latin America. His most recent job was at Olimpia, in Paraguay, where he won the 2023 Clausura and achieved good results in national competitions. Previously, he managed teams such as Godoy Cruz, Arsenal de Sarandí, Platense, Aldosivi, and Unión Española. He also had a stint in Mexican football, with Pachuca.

According to Marcelo Paz, CEO of Fortaleza SAF, the bet on the Argentine goes beyond his big name. “We were looking for a coach who could have an impact in the locker room, who understood the challenge ahead of us. Palermo is respected, knows South American football, and has already experienced turnaround situations at other clubs. He believed in our project and is coming to make Fortaleza compete at a high level again.”

Palermo’s debut is scheduled for September 13, against Vitória, in the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship, at Arena Castelão.

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