“Not everything counts when it comes to being in football”

Botafogo have announced Martín Anselmi as their new technical commander, but the Argentine coach’s arrival at the Rio club highlights a hostile episode involving a former black and white coach. Anselmi has a relationship marked by friction with Renato Paiva, who managed the team between February and June 2025.

Although they have already crossed paths in South American football, the coexistence between the two coaches is marked by disagreements. In statements made in 2022, Renato Paiva directly criticized Anselmi, exposing his personal dissatisfaction related to the succession to the technical command of Independiente del Valle, of Ecuador.

At the time, the Portuguese coach expressed his frustration with the way the transition at the Ecuadorian club had gone, pointing to the Argentine as responsible for a negative experience. Paiva went so far as to describe the episode as a “disappointment”, a term which had repercussions in the sporting world and came to symbolize the rift between professionals.

— As a person, a total disappointment. Being in football isn’t worth everything. Independiente Del Valle had a coach, and he was someone who was constantly trying to get into the club. The club had a coach, and it was me. It was a story that I knew would be like this, that the next coach would be him, because (Anselmi) did everything. And (Anselmí moved) in very ugly moments, especially when we were losing, to join this club. I have to make this public because it was done behind my back, and it’s really bad. I believe there are codes of ethics in all professions — he said at the time.

Renato Paiva’s trajectory has gained importance in Ecuadorian football

After playing in the Benfica youth football team, Renato Paiva took his first steps as a coach of a professional team at Independiente del Valle, in 2021. This experience marked a turning point in his career, resulting in winning the Ecuadorian Championship and consolidating his name on the South American scene. The cycle at the Ecuadorian club ended in May 2022, when the Portuguese coach organized his transfer to León, from Mexico.

Paiva’s departure gave way to the arrival of Martín Anselmi as coach of Independiente del Valle. The Argentine took over the team and remained in the role until December 2023, during which time he racked up impressive results. Under his leadership, the club expanded its trophy collection, including the 2022 Copa Sudamericana, in the final against São Paulo, and the 2023 Recopa Sul-Americana, defeating Flamengo. In addition to international titles, Anselmi also won the Ecuador Cup and the Ecuador Super Cup.

New Botafogo commander arrives in Brazil in 2026

Confirmed as Botafogo’s new coach, Martín Anselmi is expected to arrive in Rio de Janeiro during the first week of 2026, when he will officially begin his work at the club. The Argentine coach will arrive accompanied by a technical committee made up of four professionals, made up of two assistants, a physical trainer and a goalkeeper training specialist.

The agreement signed between Anselmi and Botafogo establishes a link until the end of the 2027 season. This hiring reinforces the club’s commitment to a coaching profile with a recent history of continental titles and experience in the development of medium and long-term sporting projects.