With Cléber Xavier as assistant, Venezuela unveil new manager | OneFootball

Venezuela officially appointed former national team defender, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, as head coach this Tuesday, aiming for the next cycle of qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup, following the team's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Vizcarrondo, 41, had been serving as interim coach after the dismissal of Argentine Fernando ‘Bocha’ Batista, following the Venezuelan team's failure to qualify for the tournament that will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June and July of this year.

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The Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) also announced the hiring of Cléber Xavier as assistant coach, a position he held with the Brazilian National Team under Tite's command in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He also coached Santos in 2025.

“I am convinced that we have the necessary elements to qualify for the World Cup,” said the new coach at a press conference. “I didn't come here to learn. I am focused on achieving results.”

Venezuela is the only Conmebol country that has never qualified for a World Cup. In September last year, the team missed the chance to advance to the intercontinental playoff after suffering a 6-3 home defeat to Colombia.

This setback led to the departure of Batista and his entire coaching staff, who had been in charge since 2023.

Born in Caracas and trained as a coach in France, Vizcarrondo takes over the main team after having led the U-17 and U-20 teams.

As interim coach, he led the national team on one occasion: a 1-0 defeat in a friendly against Argentina last October in the United States.

“This is not an appointment, this is a project. It is a long-term project,” said FVF president Jorge Giménez. “We managed to make the right decision, a decision that was not improvised, rushed, or imposed.”

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Nicknamed “El Capataz,” the defender played 80 matches for the national team, some as captain.

In clubs, he had an extensive career, playing for teams in Venezuela, Colombia, Paraguay, Argentina, Mexico, and France, where he ended his career in 2021.

“I want to invite everyone involved in national football, each of you, to contribute,” said the coach.

Vizcarrondo also expressed his desire to work with Venezuelan clubs to “bring players closer” to the national team, in order to give them “visibility” and “prestige.”

*With content from AFP

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