Fortaleza says emotional goodbye to Vojvoda | OneFootball

Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s exit from Fortaleza was met with a rare display of affection and gratitude from supporters, illustrating his impact during almost five years at the helm, according to Diário do Nordeste. Despite recent struggles on the pitch, fans gathered under a strong sun at the club’s Pici headquarters to pay tribute to the Argentine coach, urging him to stay with chants of “Fica, Vojvoda!” and offering personal thanks.

Vojvoda’s stint saw the club reach new heights—not only breaking long-standing barriers domestically but also achieving notable runs in continental competitions. Fortaleza captured Campeonato Cearense and Copa do Nordeste titles and enjoyed three Libertadores appearances, as well as a Copa Sudamericana final during his time in charge. Such feats elevated both the club’s ambitions and profile within Brazilian football.

The atmosphere at his farewell was tinged with emotion. A typically reserved figure, Vojvoda could not hold back tears as he listened to supporters expressing their appreciation, giving autographs and accepting gifts. In an on-pitch interview, he summed up his feelings, saying, “Meu coração está com dor. Eu fiz o máximo possível. Sempre tentei defender o Fortaleza e os jogadores. Talvez não tenha existido um técnico que tenha acreditado tanto nesses jogadores. Talvez não tenha existido uma torcida que tenha acreditado tanto num técnico. Nem um clube que tenha aberto tantas portas e fechado outras. É a vida no contraditório.” (“My heart hurts. I did everything I could. I always tried to defend Fortaleza and the players. Maybe there was never a coach who believed so much in these players. Maybe there was never a set of supporters who believed so much in a coach. Nor a club that opened so many doors and closed others. That’s the contradictory nature of life.”)

Club leadership’s decision to part ways with Vojvoda followed a period of poor results and signs of decline in both on-field performances and the energy of training sessions, as reported by Globo. Concerns included a perceived loss of dressing room intensity and tactical freshness, contributing to a sequence of defeats and the team’s slide down the Série A table. The final straw came after a derby loss combined with elimination from the Copa do Nordeste. Despite his clear desire to stay, the club made a “restart” its priority.

As for replacements, interim coach Léo Porto, previously in charge of the under-20s, has stepped up. The board is now actively seeking a new long-term manager to steady the team for the challenges ahead.

Vojvoda’s departure marks the end of a transformative chapter for Fortaleza, leaving both lasting memories and a new standard for future success at the Pici, according to Diário do Nordeste and Globo.