Júlio Baptista is the new coach of São Paulo’s under-20 side

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São Paulo

·16 avril 2026

Júlio Baptista is the new coach of São Paulo’s under-20 side

São Paulo have agreed to appoint Júlio Baptista as the new head coach of the Under-20 team. The coach has signed a contract until December 31, 2028.

“I’m very happy to return home. The timing is ideal, especially because of the chance to help the young players — after all, the future of Tricolor is here. It’s an incredible opportunity. I arrive highly motivated to do a good job and contribute to their development,” he said.

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Credit: Rubens Chiri / São Paulo FC

Developed by the club, Júlio Baptista built a successful career as a player. At São Paulo, he won the 2000 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior while still in the youth setup. For the senior team, he played 138 matches and won the 2001 Rio-São Paulo Tournament and the 2002 São Paulo Super Championship.

In Europe, he played for clubs such as Real Madrid, Sevilla, Málaga, Arsenal and Roma. After returning to Brazil, with Cruzeiro, he was part of the squad that won back-to-back Brazilian league titles (2013 and 2014).

For the Brazil national team, he collected important titles throughout his career. He won the 2001 South American Under-20 Championship, the Copa América in 2004 and 2007, and the Confederations Cup in 2005 and 2009. He was also part of the squad that played in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

After retiring, he began his coaching career in Spain, where he obtained his UEFA A and B licenses alongside names such as Xavi Hernández, Xabi Alonso and Patrick Vieira, among others.

As a coach, after a period of internship at Leganés, he had a long spell at Valladolid, where he led teams from the Under-15 to the Under-20 levels.

Júlio Baptista had his first contact with São Paulo’s Under-20 squad on the morning of last Wednesday (15), before the team’s trip to Florianópolis (SC), where they face Avaí this Thursday at 3 p.m. at Ressacada, in the Brazilian Championship of the category. For the match, Marcos Vizolli will be in charge of the team, while the new coach will follow the game in person.