Atlético confirms Cuca’s return to command the team

Atlético Mineiro announced this Saturday morning (23) the hiring of Cuca. The coach returns to the team in which he was champion of Minas Gerais, Brazilian and the 2021 Copa do Brasil.

He replaces Argentine Antonio Mohamed, who was fired after a 1-1 draw with Cuiabá, for Série A.

Businessman Rubens Menin, the club’s main financial investor, was the biggest fan of Cuca’s return, who, at first, said he had no interest in directing any team in 2022. He wanted to dedicate himself to the launch of his institute in Curitiba,

“I am imbued with this [projeto social]. Of course there are speculations [para voltar ao futebol], but that’s just speculation. There’s nothing truthful above these speculations,” he explained to Sheet on June 7, when his name was linked to Flamengo.

In early July, when asked about a possible interest from Boca Juniors, speculated by the Argentine press, he was emphatic: “I continue as I agreed at the beginning of the year. This year I don’t work”.

In his six months in Belo Horizonte, Mohamed won the Campeonato Mineiro and the Supercopa do Brasil. His use was 69% of the points played, with 27 wins in 45 games.

These are not bad numbers, but Atlético are trying to keep the national title (it is in third, four points behind leader Palmeiras), was eliminated by Flamengo playing poorly in the Copa do Brasil and faces the Palestra Italia club in the quarterfinals of Libertadores. This, the most important competition of all.

Cuca will start his third spell at the Minas Gerais club, with a contract signed until the end of this year. In total, he has 224 games in charge of the team, with 128 wins, 48 ​​draws and 48 losses. In his first job, in 2013, he was Libertadores champion.