Neymar has encountered his first significant setback since rejoining Santos, as head coach Pedro Caixinha has been dismissed—numerous potential replacements are already emerging.
The return of club icon Neymar sparked immense excitement at Santos, yet the on-field performance has not lived up to expectations. Now, the Brazilian superstar is facing his first considerable challenge since rejoining the club, with head coach Pedro Caixinha officially relieved of his responsibilities.
This announcement was made on Monday, just under 24 hours after a 1-0 stoppage-time defeat to Fluminense in Matchday 3 of the Brasileirao. Caixinha, who struggled to gain the fanbase’s trust, saw his position become untenable following a winless start to the league season, achieving only one draw and two losses.
Significantly, the Fluminense match marked Neymar’s comeback after more than a month on the sidelines. His last outing occurred during the Campeonato Paulista quarterfinals against RB Bragantino, where he sustained an injury that kept him out of Brazil’s international fixtures.
Santos confirmed the news in an official statement posted on X: “Santos Futebol Clube announces that head coach Pedro Caixinha is no longer in charge of the first team. Along with him, assistant coaches Pedro Malta and Jose Pratas, fitness coach Guilherme Gomes, and goalkeeping coach Jose Belman are also leaving the club. Assistant coach Cesar Sampaio will take over on an interim basis. The board extends its gratitude to the coach for his efforts and wishes him success in his future endeavors.”
Caixinha was appointed in December 2023 but lasted only 112 days in the role. During his tenure, he managed 17 games across all competitions, achieving 6 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses. His departure continues a turbulent trend for Santos, making him the club’s 12th manager since 2020. His successor will be the 13th in less than five years.
Familiar faces emerge as potential replacements for Santos
Currently at the bottom of Brazil’s top division, Santos are under pressure to swiftly turn their season around—especially with Neymar back on the pitch. Several high-profile names are being linked to the vacant position.
According to Globo Esporte, club executives have reached out to two notable candidates. The first is former Brazil national team coach Dorival Júnior, who is reportedly considering multiple offers and has not yet committed to a return to management.
The second candidate is Tite, Neymar’s former coach with the Brazilian national team. Despite their strong relationship, Brazilian reports indicate that Tite has shown little interest in entering negotiations at this time. With a crucial fixture against Atletico Mineiro coming up on Wednesday, Santos must act quickly as the coaching search intensifies.
