Botafogo: Rodrigo Bellão assume time interinamente e recebe elogios de Fellipe Bastos

Rio de Janeiro – Botafogo has turned to youth development coach Rodrigo Bellão as interim manager following the unexpected dismissal of Martín Anselmi, the club announced Sunday. The move comes after a victory over Bragantino, but amidst a period of internal uncertainty for the Brazilian Série A side. Bellão, who currently leads Botafogo’s under-20 team, will accept the helm immediately, with his first test coming against Athletico-PR this Sunday at the Arena da Baixada.

The decision to relieve Anselmi of his duties, after just three months in charge, was communicated to the Argentine manager on Sunday morning, according to a club statement. Although the club acknowledged Anselmi’s dedication and work ethic, they cited a lack of “evolution, progress, and results” as the primary reason for the change. Botafogo stated they believe a new direction is necessary to achieve their objectives this season and beyond.

Adding further context to the situation, Brazilian football commentator Fellipe Bastos praised Bellão’s potential, highlighting his strong track record within Botafogo’s youth system. “Rodrigo Bellão is a youth coach, I know his work extremely well,” Bastos said on SporTV’s “Troca de Passes.” “I like to study his game, even from his work with the youth teams. He’s a promising coach in our football. He managed to give identity to the under-20 team last year, achieved important things within the club, and reached the quarterfinals of the Copa São Paulo this year.”

Bastos believes this appointment could be a pivotal moment in Bellão’s career. “He’s a promising coach who may face his biggest challenge today, taking over a Botafogo that is very troubled internally. But perhaps this is the opportunity of his career,” Bastos added. “It’s a difficult opponent, on a difficult pitch, but it’s an opportunity for him to show good work, and perhaps Botafogo will make him the permanent manager. We don’t know what will happen with Botafogo. The Botafogo of 2025 left many questions, and the one of 2026 even more questions about what may happen.”

Bellão isn’t entirely unfamiliar with managing the first team. He previously led Botafogo in two official matches earlier this year during the early stages of the Campeonato Carioca, fielding a squad comprised almost entirely of under-20 players. He too accompanied a reduced squad to Potosí, Bolivia, to acclimate to the altitude ahead of the team’s Copa Libertadores qualifying match against Nacional Potosí – a match ultimately directed by Anselmi.

The timing of Anselmi’s departure is particularly noteworthy, coming after Botafogo’s qualification for the third phase of the Copa Libertadores was cut short by a defeat to Barcelona de Guayaquil. Prior to that setback, the club had secured the Taça Rio title. The team also recently suffered a 3-0 loss to Flamengo in the Brasileirão, adding to the pressure on the manager.

Anselmi himself acknowledged the need for results earlier in March, but also pointed to external factors hindering the team’s progress. According to reports, he cited a transfer ban and a series of unusual injuries as significant obstacles. “There’s a lot of noise from outside to inside, but not from inside to outside,” Anselmi reportedly said after the loss to Palmeiras. “We know we have to get results, like any team. But we also know that many, many things happened that were like a stone in our shoe, making things not flow as we wanted.”

The appointment of Bellão represents a shift in direction for Botafogo, placing faith in a coach who has demonstrated success at the youth level. His familiarity with the club’s young players and his understanding of the internal dynamics could prove valuable as he navigates this challenging period. The match against Athletico-PR will be a crucial test, not only for Bellão but for the future of Botafogo.

Botafogo’s next confirmed fixture is against Athletico-PR on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM BRT (10:00 PM UTC). Fans can follow updates on the club’s official website and social media channels.

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