Lucio Flavio’s strategy to “small” surprise Paranaense

Idol of Paraná Clube and with a spell at Coritiba, the former midfielder Lucius Flavius begins a new chapter in Paraná football in 2025. This time, in the technical area, on the edge of the field, in charge of São Joseense.

After hanging up his boots, the classic number 10 worked for two years as a technical assistant for Tricolor himself.

The same position he assumed at Botafogo, in 2023 — at the Rio club, by the way, he commanded the main team for nine matches in the final stretch of that season.

In 2024, Lucio Flavio took over Aparecidense. At the club from Goiás, he had six wins, five draws and eight defeats, a 40% success rate, but ended up being fired during the Series C dispute.

Now, at the invitation of former midfielder Marlos, new CEO of São Joseense, and alongside the football director, Pachequinhothe 45-year-old coach starts the State Championship with the aim of leading the team towards a place in Series D in 2026.

Check out Lucio Flavio’s exclusive interview with UmDois below.

How were the conversations with Marlos upon arrival at São Joseense?

I had recently left Aparecidense and was in Rio de Janeiro, spending time with my daughter, who lives in the city. To my surprise, I received a message from Marlos, and from this conversation we began to have better contact.

When I returned to Curitiba, we scheduled a meeting and then, in fact, they told me what the ideas and projects were in relation to São Joseense, with Marlos becoming part of the management context.

And he told me that he needed trustworthy people for this start.

Because I’m from the city and have been away from Curitiba for some time, it was a motivating factor to be able to return, now in a different role, no longer as a player. I welcomed the possibility of facing this challenge at São Joseense.

What was the structure you found in this “new” São Joseense?

I knew the Pinhão Stadium, I knew about the synthetic pitch. But one of the issues that caught my attention is that we would have a training center here in Borda do Campo, so that we could work on a natural grass field.

I understand that playing on a synthetic pitch has positive sides, for those who know the pitch, but training on it daily can bring you losses too.

So, having my own headquarters, a CT, really pleased me.

And today we can have this space to improve the level of training, it was a very happy choice by the club, a first step towards a good projection for the future.

How was the partnership with Pachequinho in putting together the cast?

From our first contact, Marlos already told me that Pacheco would be part of the club’s director. And then I realized the seriousness of the work. I’ve known Pacheco for many years, I didn’t know he had changed his role, but it was something that I liked.

And we have already started to have conversations in terms of casting.

Many players were passed on, some with whom I had already worked in Paraná and Botafogo. Those who fit the club’s financial profile were contacted and some worked out.

How important is it to have defender Dirceu’s leadership on the field?

It’s always worth trying to balance your squads. Not just young people and not just experienced ones. Merging this is interesting. Dirceu already has a history in Paraná football. He already had a spell at São Joseense.

He knows the club well, he knows what it’s like to experience all this and he is the one who brings us that reference today.

Not only for us, but for the group itself, when you see a player of this level returning for a project like this.

Having the CT and being able to provide a better structure, we were able to convince some players who were in doubt to accept this challenge at São Joseense.

What are the references of coach Lúcio Flávio? What to expect from the team on the field?

I’m all about observing the cast you have. Try to work on features. I don’t have anything closed. Of course, having been a midfield player, who always worked on the technical side, I like a team that is able to play, without giving up the ball.

Today there is a lot of talk about what the Guardiola did, but we had coaches back there who already implemented this. Himself Telê Santana It was very strong in this sense of a game played.

But regarding my references, mainly due to my early career, I am very attached to Rubens Minelli and Otacílio Gonçalves [técnicos históricos do Paraná Clube].

These are two references with which I had the pleasure, even if for a short time, of working.

These are coaches who, back then, already had this characteristic. Of course, football has changed and today we have more broadcast options, but for those who are from 30, 40 years ago, you know that many coaches at the time already had these ideas.

What are São Joseense’s prospects in the Paranaense Championship?

The challenge is great for São Joseense, because there are many teams today with an annual calendar. This is our goal too, to seek a national place, in Series D, and we will work towards that.

Knowing, however, that the clubs in the interior organized themselves, improved their structures and today are reaping the fruits of this work. They will certainly cause difficulties for clubs that take time to structure themselves.

This is good for the Paranaense Championship.

We have this challenging year, not just for São Joseense, but for the big clubs, due to the difficult 2024 that some of them have had, and we will certainly have to prepare the players well to achieve our goals.