Club World Cup: Botafogo fires Paiva after OK with Palmeiras

Botafogo, reigning champion of Brazil and the Copa Libertadores, surprisingly announced the dismissal of his Portuguese coach Renato Paiva after having been eliminated by Palmeiras in the round of 16 of Club World Cup. "Botafogo announces that Renato Paiva is not more the main team coach," he wrote on his profile X the Rio de Janeiro club, owned by the tycoon American John Textor, specifying that this decision had been announced in Paiva already on Sunday evening. "The club thanks Paiva and his assistants for their services made in recent months, in particular the historic victory against Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup, and the qualification for the round of 16 of the Libertadores and the Brazil Cup," he added. Renato Paiva, former player of the Mexican Toluca, had taken the reins of a team adrift in February after the departure of compatriot Artur Jorge, architect from the bench of Copa Libertadores and Brasileirão in 2024. In the group stage of the Club World Cup, Botafogo surprised eliminating Atlético Madrid and qualifying for the round of 16 final with Paris Saint-Germain, who beat 1-0 in a of the tournament clashes. Botafogo said goodbye to the round of 16 against Palmeiras, who won 1-0 in extra time. The club is currently eighth in the Brazilian championship six points behind leader, Flamengo, with 27 games still to go. In August will face Liga de Quito in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores 2025.