RIO DE JANEIRO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Newly appointed Botafogo manager Franclim Carvalho said he was eager to make a winning start after arriving in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.
The 39-year-old was officially announced as Botafogo's manager on Thursday, replacing Argentine Martin Anselmi, who was sacked last month after a poor run of results.
Carvalho is well known to Botafogo, having worked as an assistant coach to Artur Jorge in 2024 when the Rio de Janeiro club won both the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Serie A titles.
"Immense happiness, it's an honor to be back here," the Portuguese coach told reporters. "It's exactly two years since I first arrived here. I can consider myself fortunate to have been chosen a second time."
"It's a great honor. I think the happiness is visible on my face. The desire to start working is huge and these last few days have been about preparing to come here."
Botafogo has endured a difficult start to the South American season, failing to progress beyond the Copa Libertadores qualifying phase and losing five of its first eight Brazilian Serie A matches.
Carvalho's first match in charge of the two-time Serie A champion will be Saturday's derby against Vasco da Gama.
"I've already been in contact with some players," he said. "Of course that helps, I reached out to some players, others also contacted me before it was made official. For me, it's a big help to already know the entire structure, we gain time."
Of his debut on Saturday, Carvalho said: "It's important that we win. It will be the beginning of a new phase." ■
