Santos acted swiftly this Thursday, confirming Cuca’s return as head coach just hours after parting ways with Juan Pablo Vojvoda.
Neymar’s club finalized a deal that extends Cuca’s contract until the conclusion of 2026, as stated in an official announcement. This will be his fourth term at Vila Belmiro, following previous tenures in 2008, 2018, and 2020-2021.
Following Santos’ 2-1 home loss to Internacional on Wednesday night, the club opted to terminate Vojvoda’s contract after a mere seven months in charge.
The former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona player equalized for Santos after an early own goal, but a last-minute winner from Johan Carbonero left Santos just a point above the relegation zone.
News of Vojvoda’s dismissal emerged almost immediately after the match — the Argentine did not have the opportunity to participate in his post-match press conference.
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Vojvoda took over from Cleber Xavier as Santos manager in August of the previous year, with the club two points clear of the relegation zone, and managed a slight improvement in results that culminated in a 12th-place finish.
However, Santos has faced difficulties this season, having recorded four wins and six losses across their 15 matches in all competitions.
The last five matches have yielded only one victory and resulted in elimination from the Campeonato Paulista at the hands of second-tier team Novorizontino.
