Fortaleza board split on Vojvoda after derby disaster | OneFootball

Fortaleza’s leadership finds itself at a decisive crossroads over the future of manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda, following a dismal series of results and growing internal pressure, according to Globo and NE45. After slipping to a sixth consecutive defeat—most recently against arch-rivals Ceará in the Clássico Rei—and extending their winless streak to nine matches across all competitions, the club convened an emergency meeting on Monday morning to weigh up Vojvoda’s position.

The atmosphere inside Pici is fraught. Fortaleza have slumped into the relegation zone with just 10 points, and confidence in the manager’s ability to change the club’s course has notably waned among senior figures. The club’s campaign has already fallen short of key benchmarks, with early exits in the Campeonato Cearense, Copa do Nordeste, and Copa do Brasil. Chief executive Marcelo Paz recently conceded that the remaining priority is simply to avoid dropping out of the top flight—downscaling the initial objective of securing another international tournament berth.

Despite this, Vojvoda remains adamant he is not considering resignation, declaring after the loss to Ceará, “None at all,” in response to whether he would rethink his role. “I have a strong head and the belief that this team will turn things around. In good times I wanted to stay and in tough times, I want to stay. This is a bad moment for our football, but we must keep believing and take responsibility for our mistakes. We need to get points, now.”

The sense among club decision-makers, however, appears to be shifting. As NE45 reports, the perception is growing that the Argentine coach is no longer extracting the level of performance from the squad that was previously seen, especially after several mid-year squad changes failed to spark a revival. Just under a month ago, Fortaleza had issued a statement publicly backing Vojvoda and reaffirming their faith in his contract through the end of 2025. The current run of form, though, has cast fresh doubt over that stance.

Vojvoda has also voiced his continued trust in the squad, noting in a weekend press conference, “This is a group I trust and will continue trusting. They work hard in training, but the results aren’t following. We face a lack of confidence from supporters, but inside we need to keep working and accept where we’ve fallen short.”

Their next fixture, a home tie against Bahia on Saturday, now looms as a potential tipping point. The two sides met recently in the Copa do Nordeste, where Bahia eliminated Fortaleza with a 2-1 win. Should this downward trend persist, Vojvoda’s tenure may be nearing an end.

Original sources: Globo, NE45