Sport fires Gilmar Dal Pozzo after defeat to Ceará

The derby against Ceará, played at Castelão, ended in a 2-1 defeat for Sport and triggered Gilmar Dal Pozzo's dismissal. The result increased pressure on the coach, who was already facing criticism for failing to improve the team's performance in Série B.

Gilmar Dal Pozzo's Performance This Season

Since taking charge, Dal Pozzo accumulated three wins, four draws, and four losses, totaling 13 points out of 33 contested, which corresponds to a 39.4% success rate. This rate was below that recorded by his predecessor, Márcio Goiano, who achieved 57.2% in 14 rounds.

Run of Negative Results

The defeat to Ceará marked Sport's third consecutive away loss in Série B, following defeats to Avaí and Novorizontino. In the match, the Lion managed to control the midfield and create good opportunities, but failed to convert their dominance into goals. Structural problems, such as errors in ball distribution and vulnerability to aerial balls, remained evident.

Board's Reaction

On Sunday morning, the board officially announced the departure of Gilmar Dal Pozzo and assistant Emerson Nunes. The statement thanked them for their professionalism and services, while also emphasizing the need to find new leadership to try and resume the campaign.

Sport's Current League Position

With 38 points, Sport occupies eighth place, four points behind the fourth-placed team, which guarantees a spot in the Série A promotion playoffs. The club is still far from the direct qualification zone and sees staying in the Second Division as a goal for the rest of the season.

Next Steps

With the dismissal, Sport is looking for its fourth coach of the season. The club started 2026 under Roger Silva, then went through Márcio Goiano before hiring Dal Pozzo. The search for a new manager aims to bring tactical changes and improve defensive consistency, especially in set-piece situations, which have cost goals in recent games.

With information from ge, Band.