In 2013, shortly after the rapid rise of Man City under their new ownership, City Football Group was founded with the aim of building a global network of football clubs. The interests behind this global network ranged anywhere from commercial purposes to sporting development. Commercially, the City Group brand has...
Gremio and Renato Portaluppi (known as Renato Gaúcho) are inseparable. Other than one forgettable year playing for Serie A’s Roma, Renato spent most of his career playing in Brazil’s top clubs. Although his career began at Grêmio, his playing days are most closely associated with clubs from Rio de Janeiro,...
The recent growth in Functional Play is undeniable, and with it, many questions arise. As discussed in the latest TFA Podcast, analysing aspects of these tactics through the lenses we have become accustomed to may prove problematic. The core ideas behind this style, which is most notably found in Fluminense,...
The past few years have been truly painful for Vasco da Gama supporters, with the former Copa Libertadores winners spending two consecutive seasons in Brazil’s second division. In the middle of 2022, however, the future began to look bright for O Gigante da Colina. First, 777 partners came forward to...
Since their acquisition of Bragantino in 2019, Red Bull have done a fantastic job of implementing their innovative and successful identity in Brazil. While their tactics of direct and intense football were effectively implemented by Mauricio Barbieri, the club’s recruitment department, led by director of football Thiago Scuro, has also...
In this tactical analysis video, we look at Fernando Diniz and his tactics and Fluminense. Diniz is being talked of as a potential coach of Brazil, so it is important we understand his tactics and philosophy. Over the last few years, Fernando Diniz has become one of the most polarising...
Andrey Santos is just 18 years old and has already ushered Vasco da Gama to promotion to the Brazilian Série A in his first season in senior football. His impressive performances and character have earned him the captain's armband of the Brazil U20 side. This debut campaign has been so...
In late 2017, only four years after Neymar’s departure to Barcelona, Rodrygo made his professional debut for Santos. Not long after, Florentino Pérez came knocking into the Vila Belmiro to sign the young star for Real Madrid. Rodrygo was proof that lightning, at least in Santos, can strike multiple times...
For decades, Brazil has been a hotspot for young and promising players. Most of the time, these prospects tend to be skilful and talented forwards who entertain through flair. In recent years, players like Real Madrid’s Vini Jr or Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli have left South America with the spotlight on...
After reaching unthinkable heights in his first year, Juan Pablo Vojvoda ran out of ideas as his team failed to win their first eight league games of the season. With a dynamic and daring 3-4-1-2, Vojvoda took Fortaleza from barely avoiding relegation in 2020 to comfortably finishing amongst the top...
Brazil, year by year, continues to be one of the hottest countries to sign wonderkids, and this is not a new tradition; it has been a recurring trend throughout the history of football, as almost all of them bring ball control, distribution ability, bravery, and dribbling technique to any team....
After another eventful Copa do Brasil edition, all roads have led to a Clássico do Povo final. Clássico do Povo, which translates to Derby of the People, is the name given to the interstate derby between Brazil’s two biggest fan bases. Corinthians, who have had a relatively successful year under...
After securing a 2-2 draw in the Maracanã, Corinthians hosted Fluminense for the second leg of the Copa do Brasil semi-final. Unlike the other semi-final, between Flamengo and São Paulo, this was a competitive battle until the very end. Fluminense are currently one of the most tactically intriguing teams in...
Who Is André Trindade? Fernando Diniz has taken the world by storm with his unorthodox tactics at Fluminense. As an antidote to the modern positional play concept dominantly adopted worldwide, Diniz employs a “Jogo de Apoio” based on relentless mobility and an ever-changing structure. While these tactics have already been...
Who Is Vitor Roque? At 17 years old, with a £4.23M price tag on his shoulders, Vitor Roque walked into the historic Mineirão and put two goals past the current champions, Atlético Mineiro, in Athletico Paranaense’s recent 3-2 victory. The Mineirão, a place he called home in his Cruzeiro days,...
After losing the first matchday of Brazil’s 2022 Série A, Internacional made the controversial decision to sack Uruguayan manager Alexander Medina. Only winning six of their first 17 matches of the season, the Porto Alegre side decided, prematurely in many people’s minds, to change directions. Medina’s replacement, Mano Menezes, is...
Over the last few years, Fernando Diniz has become one of the most polarising managers in Brazilian football. The 48-year-old made a name for himself after taking an incredibly limited team in Grêmio Osasco Audax to the final of the 2016 Paulista. In this historic run, Audax eliminated two giants...
Under Vitor Pereira, Corinthians have been, if anything, inconsistent. Despite promising moments, such as their 2-0 win over Boca Juniors, they haven’t won in the last five matches. To make matters more frustrating, their last two matches have included two draws against significantly weaker teams in Always Ready and América...
While stars like Vini Jr., Paquetá, and Bruno Guimarães begin to perform among the world’s best, the attention shifts to the next generation of Brazilian talent. One of the most promising players in this group is 18-year-old Matheus França, from Flamengo. Although he hasn’t had many opportunities in the senior...
Although four matches is a relatively small sample size, some promising players have been breaking through in Brasileirão 2022. After being relegated in 2020, Coritiba is back in Brazil's first division with an exciting start to the season. They won the Paraná state championship and currently sit fifth in Brasileirão....
