Sergipe have appointed Paulo Massaro as their coach for 2027, bringing him back to Sergipe football after three years. He previously led local rivals Confiança at the start of the 2024 season, but his tenure ended after nine matches.
Confiança’s campaign began with a disappointment in the preliminary round of the Copa do Nordeste. The team drew 1-1 with Retrô at Arena Batistão before losing on penalties and missing out on the regional competition.
The side then won four consecutive Campeonato Sergipano matches against Olímpico, Dorense, Carmópolis and Falcon to move to the top of the table. That run ended with a 2-1 comeback defeat to Sergipe in the Clássico Maior. Confiança followed it with two more state league wins, against América de Propriá and Atlético Gloriense. The latter was Massaro’s 100th match as a professional coach.
His final game came in the Copa do Brasil first round against Murici-AL. Confiança took the lead in the first half and had the advantage of a draw, but lost 2-1 after the break. The elimination led to Massaro’s dismissal. He finished with six wins, one draw and two defeats in nine games, a 70.3% win rate.
Since leaving Confiança, Massaro has coached CRAC-GO, Rio Branco-PR and Operário-MS, his most recent club, and worked as an assistant at Guarani. At Sergipe, he will take charge of a team seeking to defend its state title and earn promotion to Série D. The club will also compete in the Copa do Brasil and Copa do Nordeste.
Sources: Globo Esporte.