Vitória has dismissed Jair Ventura but has not yet announced his replacement as the Brazilian Série A enters its final stretch. With only five rounds remaining in the competition, the Bahian club sits just two points above the relegation zone, marking their closest proximity to the drop during the second half of the season. In the interim, fixed assistant coach Cléber dos Santos, who has been with the club since 2025, is managing training and will lead the team against Fluminense this Friday if a new manager is not appointed in time.
The first major challenge for the incoming coach is to significantly improve the team's performance rate in the second half of the season. After finishing the first half as the 11th-best campaign, Vitória has struggled with a relegation-level performance in the return leg, securing only three wins in 14 matches for a 28% win rate. Currently holding 38 points, the team needs to reach at least 45 points to historically avoid relegation, requiring a 46% success rate in their remaining games, a figure far above their current trajectory.
A second critical task involves securing victories against top-tier opponents. Vitória has yet to defeat any team from the G-6 this season and faces Fluminense, currently fourth in the standings, in their next match. The upcoming schedule also includes home games against eighth-placed Santos and ninth-placed Bragantino. In the first half of the season, Vitória managed only one point across these three specific matchups, drawing with Fluminense at the Maracanã.
Improving away form is another essential objective, as the team has failed to win a single match outside Salvador this campaign. With an away win rate of just 11.76%, Vitória must travel to face direct rivals Internacional and Vasco in the final rounds. President Fábio Mota recently noted that while the team's home record is historically strong with ten wins, normalizing zero away victories is not sustainable for survival.
Reconnecting with the fanbase represents a fourth challenge, as the momentum at the Barradão stadium has waned. In the last five home games of the Brasileirão, Vitória recorded two losses, two wins, and one draw, resulting in a 46.6% win rate. Additionally, average attendance has dropped to just over 13,000 fans per match in recent weeks, a stark contrast to the start of the season, following their elimination from the Copa do Brasil by Vasco.
Finally, the new coach must enhance the team's offensive efficiency. Vitória currently ranks as the second-worst attack in the competition with 35 goals, trailing only Chapecoense. The squad has relied heavily on striker Renê, who leads the team with ten goals, while Renato Kayzer recently returned to scoring after a three-month drought. With these obstacles looming, the club's next opportunity to alter their fate is this Friday against Fluminense.
Sources: Globo Esporte.