October 21 – After a 24-year-long partnership, Brazilian manager Tite and his assistant Cleber Xavier have parted ways with the latter choosing to pursue his own managerial ambitions.
For years, the duo were inseparable on the touchline, but Xavier (pictured right with Tite) communicated on social media that he will go his own way in a bid to become a manager himself.
“I write here to communicate a decision that I have been contemplating for a long time. I am making a change in my career and I am stepping down from my role as Tite’s assistant to pursue my dream of becoming a football coach,” said Xavier on Instagram.
In recent years, Tite’s son, Matheus Bachi has won space in his father’s backroom staff. Cleber Xavier served as Tite’s assistant at Gremio and Corinthians and the pair led Brazil at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Twice, Brazil crashed out in the last eight against European opponents.
Xavier extended his gratitude to Tite. “Alongside him, for the past 24 years, I have experienced the greatest joys a football professional could hope for. More importantly, we created a relationship grounded in eternal bonds of affection, respect, and, above all, true friendship,” he said.
Earlier this month, Tite and Xavier were dismissed by Rio club Flamengo after the team’s exit from the Copa Libertadores, South America’s premier club competition. It would prove the pair’s last adventure together. Flamengo appointed Filipe Luis as Tite’s successor with the former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea player tasked to rescue the club’s season. On Sunday, Flamengo drew with Corinthians to book a place in the final of the Brazilian Cup against Atletico Mineiro.
“The 24 seasons we spent together were based on the constant search for knowledge. We always worked with loyalty and transparency, locking in ideas to reach a decision leaving aside, as much as humanly possible, who is right, to find what is right,” said Tite.
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