:strip_icc()/s.glbimg.com/es/ge/f/original/2018/11/14/cruzeiro-voce-se-lembra_aor1Zgi.png)
[ad_1]
Felipão is back in Cruzeiro after almost two decades of his departure. From that club that remained when he took over the Brazilian team, the history and current structure is better. However, in terms of field and football, Scolari’s second visit to Raposa will start at a completely opposite time.
In 2000, Cruzeiro won its third edition of the Copa do Brasil, with a memorable victory over São Paulo. Before the decisive match, held in Mineirão, the board announced that Luiz Felipe Scolari would take over the team after the competition, regardless of the result. Marco Aurélio, then coach, led the team to the title and passed the baton to the gaucho.
Felipão conquered Sul-Minas by Cruzeiro – Photo: Playback / Globo Minas
Three times champion of the Brazil Cup and two times of the Libertadores, Cruzeiro dreamed, with that project, of being champion of Brazil for the first time, because, at that time, the 1966 Brazil Cup had not yet been recognized as a Brazilian title .
Leading a winning team that had good values, such as Sorín, Ricardinho, Geovanni, Fábio Júnior, Oséas and Muller, among others, Felipão managed to lead Cruzeiro to the semifinal of the João Havelange Cup, also recognized as Brazilian. He ended up eliminated by a team that, individually, was better: the Basque. It is no coincidence that the team led by Joel Santana won the tournament, with highlights such as Hélton, Júnior Baiano, Juninho Pernambucano, Euller and Romário.
Felipão returns to Cruzeiro after almost 20 years of the last step – Photo: Playback / Internet
The following year also began promising, with the Copa Sul-Minas title undefeated. Then two disappointments. The first was an early elimination, in the semifinal stage (at that time played in groups) of the Mineiro Championship. In the sequence, the team fell in the quarterfinals of the Libertadores, by Palmeiras, current runner-up, undefeated. There he said goodbye to Cruzeiro for the Brazilian team, where he won, the following year, the biggest title of his career: the fifth world championship.
After 19 years and refusal, Felipão returns to be Cruzeiro’s coach
Because of the way the start was carried out, Felipão always adopted a speech of thanks to Cruzeiro. Nineteen years later, the opportunity to give back came, but it took a lot of work and reached a scorched earth scenario.
If in 2000 the witness pass was made after a national title, now it happens with Cruzeiro in the vice-lantern of Series B of the Brazilian Championship. In addition to the field, the external image devastates the club, which accumulates a debt close to R $ 1 billion and has recurrent difficulties to keep up with salaries. Currently, players are not receiving the August and September sheets. Not by chance, a good chunk of the coach’s salary will be paid by a sponsor.
Felipão lived in Rio Grande do Sul and visited Adilson Batista, then Cruzeiro coach, at the end of 2019 – Photo: Playback / Instagram
With a list of needs recognized by all the coaches who went through Toca, Cruzeiro cannot even register players for sanction in FIFA, for unpaid debts. Felipão only accepted the challenge of returning to Toda da Raposa with the promise that the R $ 7.2 million will be paid, freeing up the club to register new players.
The emotionality of the group of athletes and the need to motivate the squad will also be challenges on the new cruise. This one, less complicated to imagine. Without a doubt, Felipão will have to create a new “Scolari Family” in Toca da Raposa.
With the collaboration of Pedro Rocha
[ad_2]