Artur Jorge's Former Assistant Set to Take Over at Botafogo, Succeeding Anselmi

Botafogo is reportedly on the verge of appointing their new head coach, Portuguese tactician Franclim Carvalho, according to Globo Esporte. This decision comes just over a week after the dismissal of Martín Anselmi, formerly of FC Porto, with negotiations entering their final stages, pending only minor contractual and financial details.

Discussions between the club and the coach intensified over the past 24 hours, culminating in a preliminary agreement reached on Tuesday night, which is expected to be formalized today, Wednesday. Franclim Carvalho is a familiar face within the Botafogo setup, having previously served as an assistant to Artur Jorge during the successful 2024 campaign that saw them clinch both the Brasileirão and the Copa Libertadores.

The selection of the 39-year-old Portuguese coach was influenced by several factors, including his prior knowledge of the club and a more accessible hiring cost, the same source reports. Carvalho's ambition to embark on a career as a head coach—he was recently linked with Tondela—was crucial in his decision not to follow Artur Jorge to Cruzeiro, an aspiration the Botafogo board was always aware of and viewed favorably.

The search for a new coach began last week with an initial shortlist of around 20 names. At the request of John Textor, owner of the club's SAF, the list was narrowed down to a select group of three candidates, where Franclim Carvalho stood out. The urgency to find a new leader became more pressing after the heavy defeat suffered against Athletico last weekend.

Throughout his career, Franclim Carvalho has accumulated experience as an assistant coach at clubs such as SC Braga, Gwangju, and Al Rayyan. He also had a stint as head coach at Belenenses, where, in 18 matches, he recorded three wins, six draws, and nine losses. He was being linked with Tondela, who have since appointed Gonçalo Feio, but will now return to Brazil.

Meanwhile, Botafogo, currently sitting 17th in the Brazilian championship with just six points, is preparing to face Mirassol this Wednesday at 7:30 PM, in a match for the ninth round of the competition.