Botafogo Secures Tite as Head Coach in Ambitious Reconstruction Project

Brazilian football club Botafogo appoints Tite as head coach through 2028 as part of a major reconstruction plan supported by an investment project amid institutional challenges.

    Key details

  • • Botafogo signs Tite as head coach with contract until end of 2028 season.
  • • Tite returns after March 2026 dismissal from Cruzeiro, seeking career revival.
  • • Coaching staff includes son and longtime collaborators Matheus Bachi and Fábio Mahseredjian.
  • • Appointment tied to GDA investment group's project amid Botafogo's instability and SAF judicial recovery.

Botafogo has officially announced the signing of renowned coach Tite, who will lead the team until the end of the 2028 season. This marks Tite's return to coaching after his dismissal from Cruzeiro in March 2026 and is framed as a strategic move within the club's rebuilding initiative under the guidance of GDA, the investment group behind Botafogo's SAF.

Tite, aged 65, was chosen following discussions influenced heavily by Botafogo's president João Paulo Magalhães and after careful consideration alongside his agent Gilmar Veloz. The coach views Botafogo as a valuable opportunity to revive his career following challenging periods at Flamengo and Cruzeiro.

During the current FIFA international break, Tite will utilize 17 days without matches to familiarize himself with the squad and implement his training methodologies. His coaching staff includes assistant coach Matheus Bachi, who is also his son, and physical trainer Fábio Mahseredjian, with extensive past collaborations with Tite, spanning nearly a decade. Rodrigo Bellão remains part of Botafogo's existing permanent coaching staff, supporting this transition.

Despite Botafogo facing ongoing institutional instability and judicial recovery, with the SAF sale process not finalized, the club's management underscores that Tite’s arrival is a core component of their longer-term "reconstruction of Botafogo" project. This project aims to restore the club's status in Brazilian football while providing Tite a platform to rebuild his coaching legacy.

With this announcement, Botafogo signals strong ambitions and confidence in Tite's expertise to guide the team through a critical phase of growth and renewal.

This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.

Source comparison

Length of contract

Sources report different end dates for Tite's contract with Botafogo.

cnnbrasil.com.br

"Tite has signed a contract that will keep him with the team until the end of the 2028 season."

tribunadonorte.com.br

"Tite has signed a contract that will keep him with Botafogo until December 2028."

Why this matters: One source states Tite's contract runs until the end of the 2028 season, while the other specifies it ends in December 2028. This discrepancy affects the understanding of the contract's duration.