Internacional faces a turnaround in the coaching market after the confirmation of the hiring of Tite by Cruzeiro this Tuesday, December 16th. The club from Rio Grande do Sul, which fought against relegation in Brasileirão 2025 and guaranteed its permanence in the elite, is now activating alternative plans to define the team’s technical command in 2026. The Colorado management set a deadline of this Wednesday, 17th, to announce the new name.
President Alessandro Barcellos’s management is racing against time to set up the coaching staff and the football department. Abel Braga acts as interim technical director, but the club has not yet defined a vice-president or executive director of football. Essa structure needs to be consolidated quickly to plan the next season.
- Collective organization in limited squads
- Adapting to restricted budgets
- Medium-term work focusing on tactical identity
These criteria guide the search for the new coach at Beira-Rio.
Eduardo Domínguez profile as main option
Eduardo Domínguez emerges as one of the main alternatives on Internacional’s radar. The 47-year-old Argentine coach won the Argentine Torneio Clausura title with Estudiantes last weekend, beating Racing on penalties. Seu contract with La Plata’s club ends on December 31st, which facilitates negotiations.
Domínguez had already been monitored by Inter on previous occasions, including in 2022, when he directed Colón and won another Argentine title. The president of Estudiantes, Juan Sebastián Verón, wants renewal, but the situation remains uncertain. The coach is still competing in Trofeo of Campeones against Platense on Saturday, 20.
Paulo Pezzolano trajectory and fit into the project
Paulo Pezzolano gains internal strength as another viable option for Internacional. The Uruguayan has been free on the market since October, after dismissal from Watford, from Inglaterra. Sua’s time at Cruzeiro in 2022 stands out for its ability to extract income from a lean squad in the midst of the financial crisis.
In command of Raposa in Série B, Pezzolano implemented solid defensive organization and easily gained access to Série A. Essa experience perfectly aligns with the current challenges of Colorado, who seeks stability after an unstable season. The immediate availability of the trainer speeds up possible success.
Context of the search for a new commander
The management of Internacional prioritized Tite initially, but competition from Cruzeiro changed the scenario within a few hours. The club from Rio Grande do Sul maintains contacts with foreign representatives while evaluating the ideal profile for 2026. The quick definition aims to prepare the squad for the Gauchão and the Brasileirão.
Other names circulate behind the scenes, but Domínguez and Pezzolano focus attention due to recent experience in similar contexts. The Centro of Análise and Prospecção of Atletas of Inter indicate options that prioritize collective development.
Details of ongoing negotiations
Conversations with Eduardo Domínguez are progressing discreetly, with initial advances reported by the Argentine press. The recent title elevates the coach’s status, but the end of his contract opens doors for Brazilian football. In the case of Pezzolano, the internal assessment highlights its rapid adaptation to constrained financial realities.
Internacional intends to announce the coach by the established internal deadline. Essa urgency reflects the need to plan signings and pre-season with defined command.
Recent history of foreign candidates
Eduardo Domínguez has spent time at Huracán, Colón, Independiente and Sua tactical approach emphasizes defensive solidity and taking advantage of young players. Paulo Pezzolano, in turn, directed Valladolid and Watford after Cruzeiro, maintaining a focus on collective organization.
Both coaches meet the parameters outlined by the Colorado management to overcome the challenges of 2025. The club escaped relegation in the last round and is now seeking solid reconstruction.
Perspectives for the football department
Setting up the football department takes on priority alongside choosing the coach. Abel Braga contributes temporarily, but Inter needs a permanent structure to compete on multiple fronts in 2026. The definition of technical command directly influences market decisions.
Colorado monitors the development of negotiations with foreigners while preparing official announcements. The fans await positioning after the loss of Tite to their rival from Minas Gerais.
