Football Season Guide

One can imagine a better definition for 'heartbreaking' that Botafogo's performance in Série A, in 2023. Fogão was the undisputed leader for the most part of the season, but a series of events - namely a change in dugout - led Botafogo to a depressing final run, with just 2 wins in the last 17 rounds, and no victories at all in the last 11, leaving 'Fogão' out of the top-4, in the end. 2024 hasn't been a wonder for the 'Lone Star'. Botafogo finished 5th in the regular stage of Campeonato Carioca (State Championship) and had to play the consolation competition Taça Rio, winning it in the end. In Libertadores, Botafogo managed to qualify for the group stage but picked a bad home defeat in the first round, already. Portuguese Artur Jorge was just recently hired for the managerial job at Botafogo, not having had time to work in the pre-season nor building the squad with personal picks. Artur Jorge likes a very attacking football, usually with two strikers. Botafogo lost the three main references at the back: goalkeeper Lucas Perri and centre-halves Adryelson and Victor Cuesta. It is questionable that Botafogo properlu replaced those three. John arrived for goal, but might not even be good enough to be the starting option, as the veteran Gatito looks sharper, for now. Injuries and aging has been taking away Carlos Eduardo's initial steam when he first arrived at the club, and there may not be a decent alternative for the playmaking role, now that Lucas Fernandes is gone. In attack, there are more and better options, this season. Jeffinho returned to the club, after a promising 2022 season; Luiz Henrique and Savarino are better options for the wings than the departing Victor Sá. The best news however concern with Junior Santos exciting form in 2024: 13 goals and 2 assists in 17 games, so far.