Júlio Baptista is São Paulo's new Under-20 coach

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São Paulo

·16 April 2026

Júlio Baptista is São Paulo's new Under-20 coach

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

“I’m very happy to return home. The timing is ideal, especially because of the chance to help 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

A product of the club’s academy, 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 ranks. For the senior team, he made 138 appearances 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. Upon returning to Brazil, he was part of Cruzeiro’s squad that won back-to-back Brazilian league titles in 2013 and 2014.

With the Brazil national team, he collected major 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 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

After retiring, he began his coaching career in Spain, where he earned 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 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 traveled to Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, where they will face Avaí this Thursday at 3 p.m. at Ressacada in the Brazilian Under-20 Championship. For the match, Marcos Vizolli will be in charge of the team, while the new coach will follow the game on site.