Most of the board is convinced that former goalkeeper Rogério Ceni is prepared to lead the team in 2017, and conversations have left president Leco well impressed.
If no unforeseen events occur in the next few days, Rogério Ceni will be the next coach of São Paulo. According to various outlets in the Brazilian press, Rogério Ceni is the board’s favorite name to replace Ricardo Gomes. Former goalkeeper Ceni retired in December last year with a party in Morumbi, and spent much of 2016 between courses and internships to take charge of the team. Amid general doubts about Ceni being prepared for such a challenge, there were leaders who preferred to wait another year, others who had doubts and some very favorable. About three months ago, Ceni and Leco talked about the ideas of the former goalkeeper for São Paulo. The president was very impressed with Ceni’s level of knowledge, who recently enrolled in a coaching course of the English Football Association and made visits to several clubs, including Leicester, Liverpool and Chelsea. He also did a one-week internship with Jorge Sampaoli, 2015 Copa América champion with Chile, and at the moment in Seville. He also plans to attend the CBF course later this year at Granja Comary, according to Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola.
São Paulo’s board of directors has the idea of signing the new coach quickly, in order to speed up the planning for 2017, which includes new player arrivals and assembling the technical committee. São Paulo and Ceni are believed to have already reached an agreement regarding wages and contract length, with just minor details left for the club to settle before officially announcing the appointment.