Football Season Guide

Serie A
Brazil
Serie A
2017
EC Bahia
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EC Bahia

In


Diego Rosa (Mid, Monte. Yamagata), Maikon Leite (Att, Toluca), Matheus Sales (Mid, Palmeiras, on loan), Wellington Silva (Def, Fluminense, on loan), Édson (Mid, Fluminense, on loan), Gustavo (Att, Corinthians, on loan), Agustín Allione (Mid, Palmeiras, on loan), Edigar Junio (Att, Atlético-PR), Pablo Armero (Def, Udinese Calcio), Zé Rafael (Mid, Coritiba FC), Matheus Reis (Def, São Paulo, on loan), Zé Roberto (Att, Ponte Preta, end of loan), Douglas Pires (GK, Foraleza, end of loan), Hayner (Def, Náutico, end of loan)

Out


Mateus (Mid, Omiya Ardija), Gustavo (Def, Avaí FC), Renato Cajá (Mid, Ponte Preta), João Leonardo (Att, Alcanenense), Gustavo (Att, Roasso Kumamoto, on loan), Luis Gustavo (Mid, Faisaly, on loan), João Paulo (Def, Figueirense FC), Rômulo (Mid, Busan IPark, on loan), João Paulo (Att, FC São Paulo B, end of loan), Wesley (Att, Chapecoense, end of loan), Régis (Mid, Sport Recife, end of loan), Muriel (GK, Internacional, end of loan), Misael (Att, Red Bull, end of loan), Thiago Ribeiro (Att, Santos FC, end of loan), Allano (Att, Cruzeiro, end of loan), Vitinho (Att, Guarani-SC, end of loan), Luiz Antônio (Mid, Flamengo, end of loan)

With such a rich history, it was a shock when Bahia were relegated to the Serie B as they are one of the country’s bigger clubs. Yet they are now back, even if it wasn’t a smooth ride back to the top flight, with the team only able to secure the final promotion place. The hiring of the experienced Guto Ferreira midway through the campaign was vital as he steered them towards promotion and they have a good chance to impress in the Serie A this season with him in the dugout. Their performances may not have impressed all that much in the Baiano State Championship as they warmed up for this season, but the results were positive and they reached the final. He is the kind of coach who can do great things on a shoestring budget and that’s what he has had to work with this off-season. Nevertheless, the club has signed smartly and has made some no-nonsense low-cost additions. Alione, Armero, Rene Junior, Jackson and Maikon Leite all have some experience with big clubs and should be able to add some much needed first division know-how. There is, therefore, a good solid base for Bahia to work with and they’ll strive to avoid an immediate bounce-back relegation. It would be a disappointment for them if they did drop back down.

Target


As it is for every newly promoted side, Bahia’s goal is to stay in the division. Yet they are one of the better-equipped promoted teams and it wouldn’t be a shock if they perform well enough to challenge for a Copa Sudamericana place.