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Why does Rogério Ceni’s decision to leave Fortaleza to take over Flamengo generate more criticism, rumors and reactions than similar ones? Basically for three reasons: 1- The main one: Rogério had already left Fortaleza to take charge of Cruzeiro last year. We have seen coaches change jobs a thousand times. It is rare that the boy regrets the decision, is accepted by the same club, as Ceni was, and reinforces his status as an idol. As the Tricolor Ceará welcomed the good son who made the house, there was a promise not to repeat what was undone. And it was repeated, with the departure towards Flamengo.
Vágner Mancini had not left Atlético-GO before, he returned, promised to stay and went to Corinthians. Abel Ferreira had not left PAOK before, he returned, promised to stay and went to Palmeiras. Jorge Jesús had not left Flamengo, he returned, promised to stay and went to Benfica.
There are several cases of coaches leaving clubs. But Ceni, by coming, coming and promising, ended up being unique. And it is because of this peculiarity that the case attracts more attention and generates more criticism. But he had said there were three reasons for the rumor. The other two are the characters involved. Flamengo, as the most popular club in the country, is one of those that channels the most passionate and less rational defenses and attacks. And Rogério Ceni, as a player, also aroused love and hatred for being such a prominent figure in a winning (and popular) club and for having a strong personality.
Put it all together and we have some stronger criticisms that he left the Fortaleza again for a great club in the Southeast. Now, we cannot help but observe a huge load of hypocrisy involving clubs, coaches, the media and fans.
Soccer clubs around the world, especially in Brazil, have never made an effort to treat coaches with respect and professionalism. They are the first to have their heads cut off when the results do not arrive. You can’t feel sorry for any club, no coach. We know that it takes two or three weeks (or less) for the bestial technician to be called a beast and end up on the street.
This is one reason why there is no trust relationship and the coaches only think of themselves when they make a decision like the one Rogério made.
Furthermore, it is very different for a person, an individual, to understand that they need to take another path – thinking about family, pocket, future, security, etc. – of a football club, through managers who spend money that is not understood that they need to take another path, with other professionals. For every coach who “leaves” a club, we have about a thousand cases of clubs firing a coach.
The invitation was impossible for Rogério to refuse and, even so, I am sure that he had to overcome the dilemma in his head and his heart was clenched for leaving Fortaleza. Do you think how many coaching firings are “unavoidable” and leave top hats with heavy hearts?
It bothers me to hear some people say “well, techs can’t complain when they get fired.” If you can. It is the story of the Brazilian leaders, who do not think twice before discarding them, that gives coaches the alibi to change jobs without much remorse.
This whole cycle is vicious and goes through the fans, who also act with great hypocrisy. They don’t like that Benfica comes to take Jesus, but they don’t care that Flamengo is going to take Ceni de Fortaleza. Then comes the “any professional has the right to accept a better job offer blah blah blah” speech.
Of course yes. But the coach of a great football club is not just any professional. Starting from the premise (not always true) that clubs have projects, the coach plays a fundamental and strategic role. It deals with physical (structure) and human assets (employees and athletes), publicly represents the institution, makes decisions with a very high financial impact.
Do you think that any executive in a position of trust in a large company in any sector can just walk away like this, pay a fine and go to the competition? Most of the time, this is provided for in the contract. It’s not that simple, no.
It is hypocritical to say that a soccer coach is a professional like any other. This argument only serves to justify what any fan or director or journalist-fan is to justify.
And of course, in closing, I can’t just stick with the clubs, criticize the fans, and let go of the hypocrisy that hangs under the class of soccer coaches. There are no saints in this story. Everyone rightly complains about the calendar, lack of time, job instability, we already know all that. But many benefit directly from this constant chair dance, jumping from branch to branch, racking up wages and fines.
It is not very difficult to solve the problem. There are several possibilities. That the coaches cannot manage more than X teams in the year or in a championship, that the clubs are obliged to pay the coaches until the end of the season, otherwise they will lose points. Still, solutions abound. Everyone complains in public, but in private they prefer to leave it that way.
If things were to turn out more rationally and professionally in Brazil, it would make sense to pass some kind of stronger judgment on Ceni leaving Fortaleza for Flamengo. But things don’t work out in a rational or professional way. It is such a mess that it is strange to delve into the ethical debate of a case when so many others with some similarity are happening or have just happened.
Follow the other’s game for yourself. Follow the hypocritical dance of the chairs.
