António Oliveira, coach of Cuiabá – AssCom Dourado
With each game, Antonio Oliveira has been showing its credentials in the command Cuiabá. At the head of Dourado in his second spell since May 2023, the Portuguese led the team from Mato Grosso to its best campaign in history in a Brazilian Championship and is now experiencing days of appreciation in the market. Always speculated about powers looking for a new coach, Oliveira’s name is now linked to Corinthians, who fired Mano Menezes and recalculated the 2024 route in the midst of the crisis.
However, removing António from Auriverde is not an easy task, according to the coach himself. In an exclusive interview with PLACAR at the club’s CT, held last week, before Mano’s dismissal, the Portuguese made a point of reaffirming respect for his current contract.
“Of course the sky is the limit, but I live one day at a time and today I live in Cuiabá. I’ve said it more than once and I’ll say it again: I’ll only get fired or if they pay the fine and that’s good for me. Obviously I have my dreams, but right now I’m dedicating my body and soul to a club that I know has given me a lot and today is a perfect marriage”, these.
The coach who arrived in Brazil as an assistant to Jesualdo Ferreira at Santos has also played for Athletico Paranaense and Coritiba in the country, but is currently experiencing his best moment. Another factor that contributes to the continuation of the current work is the investment in the club’s structure, which was praised by Oliveira, who was also willing to help with opinions on the construction of the new CT. “We compete with the good quality conditions they offer us, but obviously as someone who has lived in other structures, I can make some contribution if they want and it suits me”these.
The obstacle to a possible signing is also financial, considering that Corinthians would need to pay a high price (in addition to the million-dollar agreement with Mano Menezes, recently fired). According to PLACAR, the value of António Oliveira’s termination fine in Cuiabá is 5 million reais. Today, Portuguese receive around 200,000 reais per month in Dourado. The club denies that there has been a search for the coach so far.
The full interview with António Oliveira will air in the next few days. To make sure you don’t miss anything, follow PLACAR on social media.