Roger Machado takes on challenges as Inter's new coach

On Thursday (18), Roger Machado was announced as Inter's new coach, with a contract until the end of 2025. The technical committee includes Paulo Paixão (physical trainer), Adaílton Bolzan and Roberto Ribas (assistants), and Guilherme Marques (performance analyst). They will work with Leonardo Martins (goalkeeper coach), Aparecido Donizete (assistant) and João Goulart (physical trainer assistant)

Inter under new command

Roger Machado takes over Inter after Eduardo Coudet was fired after a defeat to Juventude, who was then coached by Roger. At Juventude, Roger played 35 games, with 12 wins, 13 draws and 10 losses, winning the Gaucho championship, finishing 12th in the Brasileirão and reaching the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. At 49 years of age, he has won the Campeonato Mineiro with Atlético-MG, two Baianos with Bahia and one Gaúcho with Grêmio.

Inter will be the eighth club in Roger Machado's career, having started as a coach at Juventude in 2014. He has previously coached Novo Hamburgo, Grêmio (twice), Atlético-MG, Palmeiras, Bahia and Fluminense. Roger, one of the greatest players in the history of Grêmio, where he won several titles between the 1990s and early 2000s, will have to overcome the distrust of some of the Colorados.

Embed from Getty Images

_{Roger Machado gives instructions to players during training at his former club (Photo: reproduction/SILVIO AVILA/AFP/Getty Images Embed)}

Challenges and Roger's debut

Roger Machado arrives at Inter after eliminating the club twice this season, in the semi-finals of the Gauchão and in the third round of the Copa do Brasil. He is looking to keep Inter alive in the South American competition, despite the disadvantage against Rosario Central, and improve the position in the Brasileirão, where Inter is in 13th place with 19 points, 17 behind leaders Botafogo, with four games in hand.

Roger will be the seventh coach under the management of Alessandro Barcellos, who is still looking for his first achievement as president. Roger's debut will be this Saturday, at 6:30 pm, against the leader of the Brasileirão, Botafogo, at the Nilton Santos stadium, in the 18th round.

Featured photo: Roger Machado takes over at Inter after Eduardo Coudet's dismissal (reproduction/SILVIO AVILA/AFP/Getty Images Embed)