Luiz Antônio Venker de Menezes (born 11 June 1962), known as Mano Menezes, is a Brazilian professional football coach, currently the head coach of Fluminense.

Mano Menezes
Menezes in 2011
Personal information
Full name Luiz Antônio Venker de Menezes
Date of birth (1962-06-11) 11 June 1962 (age 62)
Place of birth Passo do Sobrado, Brazil
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Fluminense (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1991 Guarani-VA
Managerial career
1993–1996 Guarani-VA U20
1997 Guarani-VA
1999 Guarani-VA
2000–2001 Internacional U17
2002 Internacional U20
2002 Guarani-VA
2002 Brasil de Pelotas
2003 Guarani-VA
2003 Iraty
2004 15 de Novembro
2004–2005 Caxias
2005–2007 Grêmio
2008–2010 Corinthians
2010–2012 Brazil
2012 Brazil U23
2013 Flamengo
2014 Corinthians
2015 Cruzeiro
2016 Shandong Luneng
2016–2019 Cruzeiro
2019 Palmeiras
2020 Bahia
2021 Al Nassr
2022–2023 Internacional
2023–2024 Corinthians
2024– Fluminense
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Menezes managed the Brazil national team from July 2010 until his sacking in November 2012. His nickname comes from his early childhood, when his sister used to call him "Mano", which is a popular slang term meaning "brother" in Portuguese.[1]

Early life and playing career

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Menezes was born in Passo do Sobrado, Rio Grande do Sul, and started playing football at amateur hometown side EC Rosário, a club which his father was president at the time; initially a forward, he was later sent back to the midfield before establishing himself as a centre-back.[2] He subsequently played for local sides Fluminense de Mato Leitão and Guarani de Venâncio Aires,[3] helping the latter to win the 1988 Campeonato Gaúcho de Futebol Amador [pt] and playing in the Campeonato Gaúcho Segunda Divisão in the following years. After three more years playing, he retired to become a coach.[4]

Coaching career

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Early years

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After retiring, Menezes was an assistant of Guarani's under-20 team in 1992,[2] before taking over as head coach of the side in the following year.[5] He was named head coach of the first team ahead of the 1997 season, but was sacked and spent a period of observation with Paulo Autuori at Cruzeiro;[6] he returned to Guarani in 1999, being again dismissed.[7]

In 2000, Menezes was named coach of Internacional's under-17 team,[8][9] and returned to Guarani in 2002 after a short period with Inter's under-20 team. He led the club to the first position in the second round of the 2002 Campeonato Gaúcho and to the subsequent final win over São Gabriel;[10][11] the title, however, was given to Internacional after a final stage was introduced.[12] He later had a short spell at Brasil de Pelotas in the second division of the Gauchão.

Menezes returned to Guarani for a fourth spell as head coach in 2003, but left after having altercations with the squad.[13] He then spent three months in charge of Iraty, as the club finished last of their group in the 2003 Série C.[14][15]

15 de Novembro and Caxias

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Ahead of the 2004 season, Menezes was named head coach of 15 de Novembro. He led the club to the semifinals of the 2004 Copa do Brasil, defeating Vasco da Gama in the process,[16] and subsequently took over Série B side Caxias in June of that year.[17]

Grêmio

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On 22 April 2005, Menezes named head coach of Grêmio in the second division.[18] He led the club to a promotion to the Série A as champions in a match that became known as Batalha dos Aflitos, and also won the 2006 Campeonato Gaúcho with the club.

Menezes qualified the Tricolor to the 2007 Copa Libertadores, where they lost the finals to Boca Juniors. He also won the year's Gauchão before announcing that he would depart the club at the end of the season on 28 November 2007.[19]

Corinthians

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Menezes in 2009

On 4 December 2007, Menezes agreed to become head coach of Corinthians for the upcoming campaign.[20] In his first year, he led the club to the Copa do Brasil finals, losing to Sport Recife, and achieved promotion from division two, again as champions.

In the 2009 season, Menezes' side lifted the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa do Brasil, qualifying the club to the 2010 Copa Libertadores. On 2 July of that year, he renewed his contract until the end of 2010.[21]

Brazil national team

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On 24 July 2010, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced that Menezes would replace Dunga as head coach of the Brazil national team.[22] His appointment was generally well received, although some pointed out that his favoured playing style resembled Dunga's defensive style.[23] He coached his first Brazil match on 10 August, a 2–0 win against the United States, where he introduced new players such as Diego Tardelli, André and David Luiz, and with only four players that had participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa: Dani Alves, Ramires, Thiago Silva and Robinho, as well as 2010 World Cup cuts Alexandre Pato, Marcelo and Neymar.[24]

At the 2011 Copa América, Brazil went out in the quarter-finals on penalties to Paraguay after a 0–0 draw, with Brazil missing all the four of its penalties.[25] He was also the coach of the Olympic team at London 2012, hoping to win the long-awaited gold medal for Brazil, the only accolade Brazil had not won in football.[26] However, they were defeated by Mexico in the Olympic final and Menezes was the target of criticism in Brazil.[27]

Following disappointing results, Menezes was sacked on 23 November 2012.[28][29][30][31]

Flamengo

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On 13 June 2013, Menezes was named as the new head coach of Flamengo.[32] On 19 September, he resigned following a 4–2 home loss to Atlético Paranaense.[33]

Corinthians return

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On 11 December 2013, Menezes returned to Corinthians in the place of Tite.[34] After helping the club to a fourth-place league finish, as well as qualifying to the Copa Libertadores, he resigned on 6 December 2014,[35] being subsequently succeeded by his antecessor Tite.

Cruzeiro

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On 1 September 2015, after nine months without a club, Menezes was named Cruzeiro head coach.[36] He led the side on 15 matches, with only one loss, but left on 6 December after Chinese club Shandong Luneng Taishan paid his R$ 7 million release clause.[37]

Shandong Luneng

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Menezes was presented at Shandong Luneng Taishan of the Chinese Super League on 12 December 2015.[38] On 21 April of the following year, with a 1–0 victory over Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the club returned to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League after an 11-year absence, with one round of the group stage in advance.

On 25 May 2016, Shandong Luneng defeated Sydney FC, entering the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League, which was the best result for the team in the ACL. In contrast to the excellent performance in continental competition, Shandong fell into the relegation zone in domestic league. On 7 June 2016, the club announced that Menezes had resigned for personal reasons and he was no longer the manager of the team.[39] He was replaced by former FC Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg manager Felix Magath.[40]

Cruzeiro return

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On 26 July 2016, Menezes was announced back at Cruzeiro.[41] He won the 2017 and 2018 editions of the national cup, and the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Campeonato Mineiro with the club.

On 8 August 2019, Menezes was sacked from the Raposa;[42] the club ultimately suffered relegation at the end of the season.

Palmeiras

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On 3 September 2019, Menezes was announced at Palmeiras on a contract until December 2021;[43] his signature was widely rejected by the club's supporters due to his identification with their rivals Corinthians.[44] He debuted fifteen days later, with a win over Goiás.

On 1 December 2019, Menezes was dismissed from Verdão following a loss to Flamengo.[45]

Bahia

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On 8 September 2020, Menezes was named head coach of Bahia in the top tier, agreeing to a contract until the end of 2021.[46] On 20 December, after a 3–4 away loss against former side Flamengo, he was sacked.[47]

Al Nassr

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On 9 April 2021, Menezes was appointed as the manager of Saudi club Al Nassr.[48] On 19 September 2021, he was sacked after a 1–3 loss against Ittihad.

Internacional

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On 19 April 2022, Menezes was appointed head coach of Internacional back in his home country.[49] He was sacked on 17 July of the following year, after a 0–0 draw against Palmeiras.[50]

Third spell at Corinthians

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On 28 September 2023, Menezes returned to Corinthians, replacing sacked Vanderlei Luxemburgo.[51] He was himself dismissed on 5 February of the following year, after a 3–1 defeat to Novorizontino which saw the club drop into the relegation zone of the 2024 Campeonato Paulista.[52]

Fluminense

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On 1 July 2024, Menezes was named head coach of Fluminense until the end of the year.[53]

Managerial statistics

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As of 8 November 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Guarani-VA 1 January 2003 30 March 2003 28 12 7 9 042.9
Iraty 1 April 2003 30 December 2003 6 1 1 4 016.7
15 de Novembro 31 December 2003 22 June 2004 44 20 11 13 045.5
Caxias 23 June 2004 20 April 2005 29 15 6 8 051.7
Grêmio 21 April 2005 31 December 2007 166 88 34 44 053.0
Corinthians 1 January 2008 25 July 2010 177 97 49 31 054.8
Brazil 26 July 2010 23 November 2012 33 21 6 6 063.6
Brazil U23 2012 2012 7 6 0 1 085.7
Flamengo 13 June 2013 19 September 2013 22 9 6 7 040.9
Corinthians 1 January 2014 31 December 2014 61 31 15 15 050.8
Cruzeiro 1 September 2015 31 December 2015 16 8 6 2 050.0
Shandong Luneng 1 January 2016 7 June 2016 22 8 7 7 036.4
Cruzeiro 27 July 2016 9 August 2019 211 101 60 50 047.9
Palmeiras 7 September 2019 2 December 2019 20 11 5 4 055.0
Bahia 11 September 2020 20 December 2020 24 8 2 14 033.3
Al-Nassr 9 April 2021 20 September 2021 16 9 3 4 056.3
Internacional 18 April 2022 17 July 2023 81 39 29 13 048.1
Corinthians 28 September 2023 5 February 2024 19 6 5 8 031.6
Fluminense 1 July 2024 present 26 11 5 10 042.3
Total 1,008 501 257 250 049.7

Honors

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Grêmio
Corinthians
Cruzeiro
Brazil

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mano Menezes já fala em ganhar a Copa do Mundo de 2014" (in Portuguese). ClicRN. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 August 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Zagueiro do presidente, Mano Menezes abreviou carreira no campo por limitação" [President's stopper, Mano Menezes abbreviated career on the field due to limitations]. GloboEsporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Mano Menezes. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Que fim levou? – Mano Menezes" [What happened to? – Mano Menezes] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Terceiro Tempo. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Amigos apontam Mano esforçado como jogador e competente como técnico" [Friends point out Mano as hard-working as a player and competent as a coach] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Mano Menezes: De jogador e técnico do Guarani de Venâncio Aires à Seleção Brasileira" [Mano Menezes: from player and coach of Guarani de Venâncio Aires to the Brazil national team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Peleia FC. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  6. ^ "O lado B da carreira de Mano Menezes" [The B-side of Mano Menezes' career] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Amigo cartola demitiu Mano três vezes..." [Mogul friend sacked Mano three times...] (in Brazilian Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Mano Menezes treinou Inter após 'seletiva' e guarda mágoa de ex-presidente" [Mano Menezes trained Inter after 'selective' and holds a grudge of former president] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Formador de jogadores e bom relacionamento: como foi a passagem de Mano Menezes na base do Inter" [Trainer of players and good relationship: how the stint of Mano Menezes in the youth setup of Inter went] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Gaúcha ZH. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Guarani: do calvário à glória" [Guarani: from the calvary to the glory] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Folha do Mate. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Há 20 anos, a maior glória do Guarani" [20 years ago, the biggest glory of Guarani] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Folha do Mate. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Vestir rubro-negro não é novidade para Mano, campeão pelo Guarani-RS" [Wearing red-and-black is not a new thing for Mano, champion with Guarani-RS] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Um Mano que não existe" [A non-existent Mano] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Folha de S.Paulo. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  14. ^ "O último fracasso" [The last failure] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Gazeta do Povo. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Mano Menezes tem boas lembranças no tempo do Iraty" [Mano Menezes has good memories of his time at Iraty] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Tribuna PR. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Do 15 de Novembro à Seleção Brasileira: relembre a trajetória de Mano Menezes" [From 15 de Novembro to the Brazil national team: remember the path of Mano Menezes] (in Brazilian Portuguese). RDC TV. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Londrina-PR e Caxias-RS: choque de desesperados" [Londrina-PR and Caxias-RS: clash of desperate ones] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Gazeta Digital. 29 June 2004. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Grêmio anuncia Mano Menezes como novo técnico" [Grêmio announce Mano Menezes as new head coach] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Folha de S.Paulo. 22 April 2005. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  19. ^ "É oficial: Mano deixa o Grêmio" [It is official: Mano leaves Grêmio] (in Brazilian Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Corinthians acerta com o técnico Mano Menezes para 2008" [Corinthians sign with head coach Mano Menezes for 2008] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 4 December 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Mano renova com Corinthians até o final de 2010" [Mano renews with Corinthians until the end of 2010] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Terra. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Brazil name Dunga's replacement as they rebuild for the next World Cup". Guardian. London. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  23. ^ "Meet Mano Menezes the new Brazil coach". goal.com. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  24. ^ "Menezes' Brazil start with impressive victory". Zonalmarking.net. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  25. ^ "Brazil lose out to Paraguay after missing four penalties in shoot-out". Guardian. London. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  26. ^ "London 2012 Olympics: Brazil coach Mano Menezes targets first football gold medal". The Daily Telegraph. 5 March 2012.
  27. ^ "Brazil legend Romario criticizes Mano Menezes for Olympic failure | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  28. ^ "Mano deixa o comando da Seleção: CBF anunciará substituto em janeiro" (in Portuguese). Globoesporte.com. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  29. ^ "Mano Menezes sacked as Brazil coach". Goal.com. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  30. ^ "Brazil sack Mano Menezes as football bosses flex their muscles". BBC Sport. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  31. ^ "Brazil sack coach Mano Menezes". ESPN. 24 November 2012. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  32. ^ "Former Brazil coach Mano Menezes to coach Flamengo". Sports Illustrated. 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  33. ^ "Mano pede demissão no Flamengo" [Mano resigns at Flamengo] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  34. ^ "Mano Menezes é o novo técnico do Corinthians" [Mano Menezes is the new head coach of Corinthians] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SC Corinthians Paulista. 11 December 2013. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  35. ^ "Soccer-Mano Menezes resigns as Corinthians coach". sports.yahoo.com.
  36. ^ "Diretoria do Cruzeiro acerta com Mano Menezes para comandar o time" [Cruzeiro's board sign Mano Menezes to take over the club] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  37. ^ "Cruzeiro confirma a saída do treinador Mano Menezes" [Cruzeiro confirm the departure of head coach Mano Menezes] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Terra. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  38. ^ "Mano Menezes é apresentado na China e ganha até presente de torcedores" [Mano Menezes is presented in China and even receives a gift from supporters] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  39. ^ "鲁能泰山-官方公告". Archived from the original on 25 June 2016.
  40. ^ "马加特加盟鲁能泰山足球俱乐部". Archived from the original on 13 June 2016.
  41. ^ "Técnico Mano Menezes está de volta ao comando do Cruzeiro: "Honra"" [Head coach Mano Menezes is back in charge of Cruzeiro: "Honour"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  42. ^ "Mano Menezes deixa o Cruzeiro após derrota para o Internacional na semifinal da Copa do Brasil" [Mano Menezes leaves Cruzeiro after defeat to Internacional in the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  43. ^ "Palmeiras anuncia a contratação do técnico Mano Menezes" [Palmeiras announce the signing of head coach Mano Menezes] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  44. ^ "'Não deveria ter ido': relembre a passagem conturbada de Mano Menezes pelo Palmeiras" ['I should not have gone': remember the controversial stint of Mano Menezes at Palmeiras] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Lance!. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  45. ^ "Mano é demitido do Palmeiras" [Mano is sacked from Palmeiras] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  46. ^ "Bahia acerta com Mano Menezes, e treinador vai assinar até dezembro de 2021" [Bahia sign Mano Menezes, and head coach will sign until December 2021]. ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  47. ^ "Comunicado" [Announcement] (in Brazilian Portuguese). EC Bahia. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  48. ^ "Mano Menezes é anunciado no Al Nassr, da Arábia Saudita" [Mano Menezes is announced at Al Nassr, from Saudi Arabia]. ESPN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 April 2021.
  49. ^ "Mano Menezes é o novo técnico do Inter" [Mano Menezes is the new head coach of Inter] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SC Internacional. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  50. ^ "Mano Menezes deixa o comando técnico do Inter" [Mano Menezes leaves Inter] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SC Internacional. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  51. ^ "Mano Menezes retorna ao comando técnico do Corinthians" [Mano Menezes returns to the technical command of Corinthians] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SC Corinthians Paulista. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  52. ^ "Mano Menezes deixa o cargo de técnico do Corinthians" [Mano Menezes leaves the role of head coach of Corinthians] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SC Corinthians Paulista. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  53. ^ "Mano Menezes é o novo técnico do Fluminense" [Mano Menezes is the new head coach of Fluminense] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Fluminense FC. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
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