Adriano is making a much anticipated return from European soccer to lead Brazilian champion Sao Paulo, while Romario - unable to play because of a doping suspension - will coach Vasco.
Adriano was signed by Sao Paulo in December on a loan from Italy's Inter Milan until June. This allows him to play during the Copa Libertadores and the traditional Sao Paulo state championship, which begins Wednesday with Sao Paulo as one of the favorites for the title.
Adriano has played sparingly since he was a starter in the 2006 World Cup, but has practiced with Sao Paulo starters. He is likely to debut in Sao Paulo's opener against Guaratingueta on Thursday.
"I'm focused and ready to play," Adriano said last week. "I'm very happy to be in a club like this."
In addition to Adriano, Sao Paulo also will count on former Lyon midfielder Fabio Santos.
The other teams expected to contend for the regional championship's title are powerhouses Palmeiras, Corinthians and defending champion Santos.
Palmeiras, seeking its first significant title in nearly a decade, will be boosted by the arrival of coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo from Santos. Luxemburgo, who coached Real Madrid for a year before being fired in December 2005, led Palmeiras to Brazilian league titles in 1993 and 1994.
Luxemburgo's team will be highlighted by Chilean midfielder Jorge Valdivia, but he won't be able to count on World Cup veteran Edmundo, who was released by the club after last year's season.
"We are not 100 percent ready, of course, but that is natural this time of the year," Luxemburgo said.
Titleholder Santos replaced Luxemburgo with former Brazil goalkeeper Emerson Leao, the coach who led the club to its national championship in 2002. The team hasn't signed any major players for the season, however.
Corinthians, relegated to the second division in the Brazilian league, also will have a new man in charge - former Gremio coach Mano Menezes. The club signed Argentine striker German Herrera, Chilean defender Cristian Suarez and Uruguayan midfielder Alberto Martin Acosta.
In Rio de Janeiro, Romario will remain the man to watch even though he is serving a 120-day doping suspension after using a medicine to prevent hair loss.
The 41-year-old veteran striker, who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title in the United States, took over Vasco's coaching job last year after Valdir Espinosa left the club.
Romario's debut will be Sunday against Madureira, the team's opener in the Rio de Janeiro state championship.
Vasco's acquisitions for the season include Nigerian striker Abubakar Bello-Osagie and Chilean forward Jose Luis Villanueva Ahumada, but even Romario has admitted the team will have a hard time contending with rivals Flamengo and Fluminense, which have added several high-profile players to their rosters.
"Vasco is the weakest team right now," Romario said.
Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club, made several additions looking ahead to the Copa Libertadores, Latin America's most important club competition. Among the new signings are World Cup veteran Kleberson and Paraguayan defender Diego Gavilan. The team also tried to bring striker Ronaldo from AC Milan but the deal did not go through.
Fluminense, which also will play in this year's Copa Libertadores, signed Argentine midfielder Dario Conca from Vasco, striker Dodo from Botafogo, and forward Washington from Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds.
Botafogo will begin the season with three international players - Argentine striker Luis Miguel Escalada, Argentine defender Alexis Ferrero and Uruguayan goalkeeper Juan Castillo.
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7678940
No comments:
Post a Comment