Belo Horizonte, Brazil – Cruzeiro Esporte Clube has relieved Tite of his duties as head coach following a frustrating start to the 2026 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A season. The decision came after a 3-3 draw with Vasco da Gama on Sunday night at the Mineirão stadium, a result that left the club languishing near the bottom of the table. Pedro Junio, vice-president of Cruzeiro’s football operations, publicly apologized to the club’s supporters and confirmed the change in leadership during a post-match press conference.
“We are here to make a statement to first apologize to the Blue Nation for our campaign in the Brazilian Championship,” Junio stated, as reported by multiple Brazilian outlets including Globo Esporte and UOL Esporte. “Our performance is not worthy of our supporters.”
The move comes despite Cruzeiro’s recent Campeonato Mineiro title, a trophy Junio himself had lauded Tite for achieving just eight days prior, according to O Tempo. But, the team’s struggles in the national league proved insurmountable. Cruzeiro currently sits 19th in the 20-team Brasileiro standings with just three points from six matches – their worst start to a season since the implementation of the points system.
Junio emphasized that the decision, while difficult, was necessary for the club’s future. “We are here to announce the dismissal of Tite’s coaching staff,” he said. “We thank Tite and his team for their services to Cruzeiro, which were full of commitment and dedication, but our results and performance have led us to make this decision for a change starting today.” The entire coaching staff, including assistants Matheus Bachi and Vinicius Bergantin, and physical trainer Fabio Mahseredjian, have also departed the club.
Assistant coach Wesley Carvalho will assume the role of interim manager, effective immediately. Junio confirmed that the club has already begun the search for a permanent replacement, mentioning Filipe Luís and Marcelo Gallardo as potential candidates, as reported by Globo Esporte. The club aims to have a new manager in place as quickly as possible to stabilize the team and improve their performance in the Brasileiro.
Tite, who previously managed the Brazilian national team, was appointed as Cruzeiro’s coach in December, replacing Leonardo Jardim. Jardim himself recently took the helm at Flamengo, filling the vacancy left by Filipe Luís’s dismissal. The managerial carousel in Brazilian football continues to spin, highlighting the intense pressure to deliver results.
The draw against Vasco da Gama, while featuring three goals for Cruzeiro, did little to alleviate the mounting pressure on Tite. Despite playing with a man advantage for a significant portion of the match, Cruzeiro failed to secure a victory, further fueling the calls for change. The team’s inability to consistently translate possession into goals has been a recurring theme throughout the early stages of the season.
For fans of A Raposa (The Fox), as Cruzeiro is affectionately known, the dismissal of Tite marks a turning point. The club, steeped in history and tradition, expects to compete at the highest level. The hope is that a new manager can revitalize the team and steer them back towards contention in the Brasileiro. The next match for Cruzeiro will be under the direction of interim coach Wesley Carvalho, with details to be announced shortly. Fans will be keenly watching to see if a change in leadership can spark a much-needed turnaround.
The search for a new coach will undoubtedly be a complex process, with Cruzeiro’s board weighing a variety of factors, including tactical philosophy, experience, and familiarity with Brazilian football. The club’s ambition is clear: to restore Cruzeiro to its former glory and compete for championships. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the direction of the club and its prospects for the remainder of the season.
