Ex-Carille assistant on 2018 Paulistão: "We felt at home"

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Central do Timão

·17 novembre 2025

Ex-Carille assistant on 2018 Paulistão: "We felt at home"

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Last week, former player and current assistant Fabinho Félix gave an exclusive interview to Central do Timão and recalled the victory in the 2018 São Paulo Championship against Palmeiras at Allianz Parque. On that occasion, the Alvinegro had lost the first game 1-0 in Itaquera and, the following week, returned the score at Allianz Parque and relied on goalkeeper and idol Cássio in the penalties to win the title.

Fabinho was asked about the title, known as 'Paulistinha Day' (April 8, 2018), recounting the backstage of the team's arrival at the rival stadium for the decisive game. Before the game, the Corinthians staff wrapped the entire Alviverde locker room with themes related to Corinthians' history. The former midfielder emphasized that the team "felt at home."

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Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Agência Corinthians

“We really felt at home because there at Palmeiras you know you have to take the golf cart to get to the locker room entrance. And, man, they took the golf cart away, made us walk from the locker room entrance, a red light, with the Palmeiras anthem playing, really loud, really loud. But, man, experienced players, you know, motivation. Then we got to the locker room, everything was wrapped up, the guys said: ‘we're at home‘ and such’. And we knew, man, really what we had to do, it will be remembered forever.”

The duel in question took place on a Sunday. Two days before, on Friday, April 6, Corinthians held an open training session at the Neo Química Arena, with free entry for fans, where 40,000 people attended. The players arrived in Itaquera with a fire corridor made by the Corinthians fans and descended among them to feel the warmth of the faithful.

According to Fabinho, the atmosphere experienced that day was the best experience of his entire career. He also revealed that he receives messages from people outside Brazil asking if that was a football match.

“I have a photo of that day on my Instagram to this day, and sometimes foreigners ask, it's a video, right?: ‘What game is it?, what's that?’. I said: ‘It's not a game, no, it's really training.’ A final photo where we thank the fans. That thing that releases smoke, right? Fire and black smoke flares. The confetti. As I said, I had only experienced this once before the final against Santos in 2009. But that day (in 2018) here was something surreal“,

“That was a director's insight. We were never favorites, but it was a group that worked hard. The defeat at home affected us a lot. That was the turning point to understand what this fanbase represented“, he continued.

Fabinho started his career playing in the youth categories of São Caetano and stood out in the ABC Paulista team in the 2001 national runner-up. At just 20 years old, the former midfielder caught the attention of coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo in a match against Corinthians (which ended 1-1), at Anacleto Campanella, in that year's state championship.

At that time, the Alvinegro had a team with several stars, such as Ricardinho, Luizão, and Kléber. The assistant fondly recalls his relationship with Luxemburgo: “He helped me a lot (Vanderlei). You would arrive at training and had to stay focused until the end. Vanderlei was tough. Those who didn't have a strong mind didn't perform well with him. He really demanded.”

Fabinho joined Corinthians right after the 2001 Paulista title. At the time, the Parque São Jorge club was undergoing major changes in its squad after the 1998 and 1999 Brasileirão titles. After the state title, the Alvinegro did not have great moments and did not perform well in the national competition. In the Mercosur Cup, Timão was eliminated in the semifinals after a painful 4-1 defeat to San Lorenzo in Buenos Aires.

In 2002, Parreira took over the team and Corinthians regained prominence, winning the Copa do Brasil that year and being national runner-up. Fabinho fondly remembers the team's matches at Morumbi (the Corinthians' home at the time) and his relationship with Vampeta.

“At first, it was a shock (the technical change). We didn't know how to greet a world champion guy. The first thing he (Parreira) said was ‘stop, you have to say good morning’. But we didn't greet him out of fear, you know? “About the games at Morumbi, the adrenaline was very high, it was very good. I just asked Vampeta not to keep talking and inflaming the opponent. But São Paulo had a very good team, our victories were very hard-fought, very detailed, you kept running after Kaká, Reinaldo. My concern was Vampeta himself. He (Vampeta) had a European style of tackling. He was my teacher at Corinthians. He played a lot.”

Then, Fabinho recalled his departure from Corinthians to Saturn, Russia, in 2003, and revealed the strong presence of Corinthians fans on Russian soil, even on the other side of the world. The former midfielder praised his relationship with the Fiel, recalling his first goal and tackles – passion on the field.

“I am very identified with the fans, with the club, with the Gaviões… I even met Corinthians fans in Russia, man. We went to play against Saturn and we wondered, ‘how were these guys here?’. So, he (the fan) would be there to shout, to express disappointment, but on Saturday they would be at Pacaembu to push the team. Therefore, any criticism from the fans is valid.”

“My first goal for Corinthians (against Paraná), the fans, like, celebrated a goal (normally). Now, I remember when I made a tackle at Pacaembu on someone, I went out on the track, it seemed like (the euphoria was much greater). Then I started thinking about it and understood. That was when the switch flipped. I rarely lost a duel. The Corinthians athlete is one, the athlete who wears the São Paulo shirt is another. And at Corinthians, I brought this street, amateur league cunning, and I came from a Corinthians household, my father was crazy (about Corinthians)”, he added.

He returned to Corinthians in 2008 after a stint at Toulouse, France, and participated in winning the Brazilian Championship Série B. The following year, he was state champion and won the 2009 Copa do Brasil, against Santos and Internacional, respectively, and recalled living with Ronaldo Fenômeno. Before the end of 2009, he left Parque São Jorge and transferred to Cruzeiro.

“Star, star! When I received the news, our concern (at Corinthians) was to raise the level. He is everything that is said. Humility 1000%. Commitment 2000%. He really wore the shirt”, he said.

In 2017, after a period interning in the youth categories of Corinthians, he received an invitation from Fábio Carille to be an assistant coach for the main team. Alongside Carrille, Fabinho was a three-time Paulista champion (2017, 2018, and 2019) and Brazilian champion in 2017.

“Corinthians doesn't call you, it summons you. The club opened its doors for me. I wanted to learn. I was a scout at Corinthians, a famous talent spotter, then I ‘interned’ with Osmar Loss, with Márcio Zanarti. I remember Carille came down to play a game in the Under-20 and invited me. I had done license B, license A… It took about 30 days and then I joined the professional team with him, to be one of the assistants at Corinthians”, he concluded.

As a player for Corinthians, in two stints (2001-2003 and 2008-2009), he scored 17 goals and provided nine assists in 247 games. In total, he won six titles: Rio-São Paulo (2002), Copa do Brasil (2002 and 2009), Paulistão (2003 and 2009), and Série B (2008).

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