Fortaleza era ends: the bold decision on Vojvoda | OneFootball

Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s tenure as Fortaleza head coach, which began in May 2021, has ended after four years marked by both unprecedented success and an eventual sharp downturn in form, according to Globo. Initially an unheralded appointment, the Argentine transformed Fortaleza’s fortunes, overseeing a period that redefined the club’s standing in Brazilian football and delivered a historic haul of silverware.

Vojvoda arrived at a moment of instability but swiftly set a positive tone, starting his reign with a resounding 6-1 victory over Crato. His first season would see Fortaleza secure a top-four finish in the Série A, a club first, and clinch their maiden Libertadores qualification. That campaign also included a run to the Copa do Brasil semi-finals—a feat that elevated expectations around the club.

Across his stay, Vojvoda’s Fortaleza collected five major titles: three Campeonato Cearense trophies (2021, 2022, 2023) and two Copa do Nordeste triumphs (2022, 2024). In continental competition, the side reached their first-ever Copa Sudamericana final in 2023 and achieved Libertadores qualification on three occasions, twice progressing directly to the group stage.

There were testing periods too. In 2022, Fortaleza spent the bulk of the first half of the league in the relegation zone but, in a remarkable turnaround, surged clear by season’s end—securing another Libertadores berth in the process. This resilience became a hallmark of Vojvoda’s sides. In 2023, after missing out on the Libertadores group stages, they shifted focus to the Sudamericana, knocking out the likes of Libertad and Corinthians before narrowly losing the final on penalties to LDU. Despite the disappointment, the achievement marked another historic high for the club.

The following season, Fortaleza repeated their Copa do Nordeste success and finished fourth in Série A—a campaign notable for an unbeaten home record in the league, just the fourth such occurrence in the era of the current league format. The squad briefly led the championship and consistently challenged financially larger teams, cementing their place among Brazil’s top clubs.

However, 2025 brought mounting difficulties. The team was knocked out of the Campeonato Cearense, Copa do Brasil, and Copa do Nordeste, enduring a nine-match winless streak and six consecutive defeats. Eliminations and a slide into the relegation zone increased pressure on the manager and the board. Fortaleza’s CEO, Marcelo Paz, described the decision to part ways as “difficult”, acknowledging Vojvoda’s deep impact on the club.

Despite the poor final run, Vojvoda leaves as the coach with the most official matches in Fortaleza’s history and a legacy of competitive achievements. As the club turns to new leadership, with candidates including Zubeldía and Ramón Díaz reportedly under consideration, the transformative period under the Argentine is likely to serve as the benchmark for future ambitions at Pici.

Original source: Globo