Botafogo Football Club finds itself at a crossroads as it searches for a permanent managerial replacement amid significant competition and recent setbacks.
Tonight, at 21:30 (Brasilian time), the team will take to the field for the first leg of the Recopa Sul-Americana final against Racing at the Estadio ‘El Cilindro’ in Buenos Aires. For this pivotal match, interim manager Cláudio Caçapa, returning to the club after two years, will be at the helm.
Botafogo’s current predicament is compounded by the absence of a permanent coach since the departure of Artur Jorge. Major stakeholders like John Textor, the club’s majority owner, have struggled to finalize a suitable replacement. Reports suggest Italian Roberto Mancini is among the top candidates, but financial constraints remain a significant hurdle.
According to RTI Esporte, Botafogo has initiated discussions with Portuguese coach Pedro Martins, who is currently at the helm of Al-Gharafa in Qatar. Martins, who has piqued the interest of Botafogo’s management for some time, is viewed as a more feasible alternative to Mancini, particularly due to the challenges posed by the Italian's financial expectations.
Textor reportedly held a video conference with Martins on Wednesday to explore the coach's contractual situation within the Arab football framework. While concrete proposals have yet to be made, this engagement marks the club's interest to secure their long-term managerial plans.
Martins, under contract until June 2026, has a buyout clause of $2.5 million (approximately R$ 14 million), which Textor seems willing to accommodate. Nonetheless, one challenge remains: Al-Gharafa is currently vying for the Qatar League title, sitting third, four points behind leaders Al-Duhail, making the timing of any potential move complex.
Martins has demonstrated his ability to adapt quickly to new environments, with his successful tenure at Olympiacos, where he won three Greek championships. His ability to build cohesive teams and garner success could be the remedy Botafogo needs.
While the managerial search continues, Botafogo faced Racing and suffered disappointment, concluding the first leg of the Recopa Sul-Americana with a 2-0 loss. The goals scored by Racing's attackers, Luciano Vietto and Adrián Martinez, marked yet another chapter of frustration for Botafogo fans.
Following the defeat, the criticism fell heavily on midfielder Danilo Barbosa, who was forced to play out of position at center-back alongside Barboza. Fans took to social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to vocally express their discontent. Comments ranged from descriptions of Barbosa's playing speed as 'surreal' to outright demands for his exit from the team.
“Danilo Barbosa, without the minimum condition to play, has not been well since the beginning of the year,” commented one fan. Another echoed the sentiment, adding, “He needs to not return to Rio de Janeiro.” Such reactions reflect the urgency with which fans are calling for change, particularly as they look to the future.
Despite the sour results and managerial challenges, Botafogo is now shifting its focus to the Campeonato Carioca, where they will face rivals Vasco da Gama this Sunday, which serves as the final round of the competition's first phase.
After this match, the team will again meet Racing for the return leg on February 27 at Estádio Nilton Santos. To advance, Botafogo will need to defeat Racing by at least two goals to secure at least extra time.
The upcoming matches and the managerial search place increasing pressure on the Botafogo Football Club as it navigates both immediate challenges and long-term aspirations.