With the former South African boss Joel Santana sacked on Friday after less than three months in charge of the team, Emerson Avila was sworn in as the new boss almost immediately.
Despite Avila’s steady management career so far, including a spell as Ipatinga manager where he gained the club promotion to the Brasileiro Campeonato in 2008, he has Fonseca’s backing to do well and insists he was always first choice.
Fonseca said: “We know the work Emerson has done really well having been here working with us behind the scenes for many years.
“We know he has great skill in management and he has everything going for him as no-one else knows the current players better.
“Since we made our decision, he was always first choice and he was never an interim, but permanent.”
The club fired Santana after a run of eight wins and seven defeats but left last year’s runners up in 11th position in the league.
