São Paulo target Roger Machado: pros and cons of the coach | OneFootball

After the dismissal of the Argentine coach Hernán Crespo this Monday, São Paulo is expected to officially announce the hiring of Roger Machado. After his stint at Internacional in 2024 and 2025, the coach was free on the market and was the main target of the tricolor board.

Experience

At 51 years old, Roger began his professional career as an assistant coach at Grêmio, a club where he played from 1994 to 2003. He then had stints at Juventude, Novo Hamburgo, Atlético Mineiro, Palmeiras, Bahia, Fluminense, and Internacional, in his last job.

Throughout his career, the gaucho coach collected eight titles. Among them, the Brasileirão (2018), Copa do Brasil (2016), the Campeonatos Baiano (2019 and 2020), Mineiro (2017), Gaúcho (2022 and 2025), and the Recopa Gaúcha in 2022.

Relationship with Rui Costa

The current executive director of football at the São Paulo tricolor, Rui Costa, worked with Roger Machado during his time at Grêmio, from 2015 to 2016. The São Paulo board believes that the coach's playing style aligns with the current squad and the objectives of the season.

Another reason for the club's preference is the speed of the deal. With the coach free on the market, the potential hiring is expected to occur more smoothly and quickly, a major desire of the club, which wants to have a new commander immediately.

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Lack of consistency weighs against the coach

In 2024, the coach was hired to lead Colorado and achieved 13 victories in 26 matches, improving performance and taking the club to fifth place in the Brazilian Championship and the Libertadores, continuing in charge for the following season.

However, in 2025, Roger led the team to the state title but then had a poor performance. With only 21 victories in 47 games, the coach was dismissed in the Brasileirão to make way for the Argentine Ramón Diaz. That year, the gaucho club finished the national championship in 16th position and reached the round of 16 in both the Copa do Brasil and the Libertadores.

Current situation of São Paulo

If confirmed, Roger Machado will have to face a difficult moment at São Paulo, which is going through an administrative crisis, with the departure of president Julio Casares and ongoing investigations related to off-field issues. He will be forced to manage various problems, including financial ones, as well as limited investments in the squad. There is a doubt, especially among fans, whether he is the right name for the current moment of the Tricolor.

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