Paulo Cesar Carpegiani Leaves Atletico Paranaense For Sao Paulo

The price of expected success is that your most valued contributors may move on to bigger and more glamorous things. Such is the affliction or Atlético Paranaense tonight after it was announced coach Paulo César Carpegiani would leave his position to take up the same post with São Paulo.

São Paulo had been without a permanent coach since their summer elimination from the Copa Libertadores, after which Ricardo Gomes resigned. Since, the Tricolor has been steered by Sergio Baresi, who leaves the coach’s position with the club sitting a disappointing 11th.

SPFC finished last year’s Brasileirao in third place, falling just short of their fourth consecutive league title when they failed to beat Goias on the season’s final day. Gomes had taken over for Muricy Rahamlho halfway through the season, joining the Tricolor as the then-defending champions sat in 12th place. The former Selecão captain led the club on a post-Libertadores surge, ultimately falling short while Flamengo won their fifth title.

This year, São Paulo made a push to regain the Copa Libertadores title they won in 2006 only to be eliminated in the semifinals by eventual champions Internacional, with the 2-2 aggregate tie broken by the away goals rule. As was the case the prior year, São Paulo was left in search of a new coach after the competition.

In Carpegiani, São Paulo’s rehired a man who ran the team one decade before, a short stint with SPFC from 1999 to 2000. The 61-year-old had Paranaense sitting a surprising 5th place, guiding the Curitiba club nine places above their 2009 finish after leading. That year, Carpegiani led Vitoria to 11th in the Serie A.

A former Brazil international, Carpegiani has one Brazilian national title to his credit: 1982’s championship with Flamengo, a victory that came on the heals of triumphs in the Libertadores and International Cup.

Carpegiani’s deal, signed on Monday, runs through December 2011. The first match of his return engagement with the Tricolor takes place on Wednesday, when São Paulo hosts another of his former clubs, Vitoria.