At 12 years old, Fortaleza leaves Serie C and plays the most important match in its history in the Copa Sudamericano final

Leão suffered many setbacks and risked falling to Serie D

Fortaleza is ever closer to winning the most important title in its history: the Copa Sudamericano. The trophy could represent a turning point in the history of Leão, which has suffered a lot in the last decade and has spent many years in Serie C.

Relegated from the elite of Brazilian football in 2006, the Tricolor took years to be managed by the competent management of Marcelo Paz, who placed the team at a level from which it should never have abandoned. They were 13 years away from Serie A, but with falls and suffering that in certain periods found fans with low expectations.

In this period, Leão do Pici has suffered greatly, especially in the eight years in which they have lived with the reality of Serie C, having fought against the drop to Serie D in 2011, but often hitting the posts to move up the division. And the fans had to work on patience, even if they occasionally found relief with Ceará’s three championship victories (2010, 2015 and 2016).

Shortly after joining, Fortaleza announced the hiring of Rogério Ceni as the club’s coach in 2018. The commander reportedly aimed to bring Laion into the elite of Brazilian football, but no one thought that this would happen like this and like that short time.

At the time, the commander began his second role in his coaching career after a poor start with Sao Paulo, in which he ended up being sacked. The president of Leão, Marcelo Paz, conveyed confidence to the young coach and believed in a long-term successful job, and the result of the bet was positive.

In Serie B, Fortaleza won the national title with nine points ahead of CSA, which represented Ceni’s first title as coach. The commander became one of the biggest names in the history of the Tricolor and built the base so that Leão could reap rewards in the future.

Between comings and goings in 2019, Rogério Ceni managed to break several taboos with Fortaleza in Série A. Laion had secured a place in the 2020 South American Championship, which would represent the first time the club will compete in a continental competition in its history. Furthermore, the team ended its season in 9th place in the Brasileirão, which at the time represented the best position for a team from the northeast in the tournament.

In an atypical year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the coach left the Tricolor at the end of 2020 to take over Flamengo, which damaged Fortaleza’s path in the Brazilian championship and freed itself from relegation to Serie B due to the goal difference criterion. But the club has invested in hiring a previously unknown coach to continue its evolution. And so came Juan Pablo Vojvoda.

In addition to winning the Cearense championship, the Argentine managed to surpass Rogério Ceni with a brilliant season in the Brasileirão, in which Fortaleza finished 4th in 2021 and earned a direct place in the following edition of the Libertadores. And in South America’s biggest club competition, Tricolor do Pici reached the round of 16, a historic feat.

With long-term work, but with a lot of confidence in the ideas that are developing, Fortaleza reaches the decision of the South American Championship and has the chance to win the most important title in its history. Established on the regional and national stage, Leão seeks to take another step and turn America blue, red and white.

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.