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Vágner Benazzi de Andrade (17 July 1954 – 22 May 2023) was a Brazilian professional football coach and former player who played as a right-back. During his tenure as a coach, he gained recognition as the "Rei do Acesso" (King of Promotions) due to his remarkable achievements in leading lower division clubs to higher tiers. Throughout his career, Benazzi guided a total of six different clubs to promotion, encompassing both the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Campeonato Paulista.[1][2] He was also known for his ability to successfully steer teams clear of relegation.[3][4]

As a player, he enjoyed a professional career spanning 16 years, during which he represented teams such as Comercial, Juventude, and Palmeiras.[3]

Club career

Benazzi's early footballing journey involved playing for the youth teams of Nacional-SP and Portuguesa. Subsequently, in 1972, he embarked on his professional career as a right-back with Operário de Campo Grande. In 1973, Benazzi made his return to Lusa, where he joined the squad that went on to clinch the Campeonato Paulista title that year.[5] Following a one-year stint with Sampaio Corrêa, he played for Juventude from 1975 to 1978.[6]

In 1978, Benazzi briefly played for XV de Jaú before making a move to Comercial de Ribeirão Preto the following year. It was during his time at Comercial that he truly made his mark, delivering standout performances in the 1979 and 1980 editions of the Campeonato Paulista.[7] Benazzi's exceptional performances caught the attention of Palmeiras, leading to his signing with the club for a two-season stint. However, his time with Verdão did not yield significant success.[8]

Following his departure from Palmeiras, Benazzi spent a year with São José before joining Paulista, where he was part of the squad that finished second in the 1984 Campeonato Paulista second division.[9] In 1985, he played for Botafogo-PB in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and for Taquaritinga in the Paulistão second tier.[10] In the final years of his career, Benazzi went on to represent Independente de Limeira, Lençoense, and Grêmio Sãocarlense, concluding his professional journey with the latter in 1989.[11]

Coaching career

In 1989, Benazzi took up his first major coaching role as he led his former team, Grêmio Sãocarlense, to the Campeonato Paulista Third Division title, beating Sertãozinho in the finals.[12][13] Benazzi replicated his success the following year by guiding União Barbarense to promotion to the second division. In 1991, he took on his first coaching role in the second tier of state football, where he led Lemense to a second-place finish. The subsequent year, he achieved further triumph by securing the title with Taquaritinga.[14]

Following a second stint with Sãocarlense and a brief spell with Comercial, Benazzi took Portuguesa Santista to the second division in 1994. In the 1990s, he also worked in Bragantino, Paraguaçuense and União Barbarense. He took the latter to their first-ever promotion to the top flight of the Campeonato Paulista, in 1998.[15]

Benazzi joined Avaí in 2006, helping the club to achieve a place in 2007 Copa do Brasil. He subsequently moved to Portuguesa, being promoted with the club and also winning the Campeonato Paulista Série A2.

On 10 October 2010, after managing Ponte Preta, Vila Nova and Portuguesa, Benazzi returned to Avaí,[16] with the club narrowly avoiding relegation in the year's Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. On 14 February of the following year, however, he was relieved of his duties.[17]

Benazzi also managed Bahia, and after being dismissed joined fierce rivals Vitória, leaving the latter in December 2011. He was later in charge of Botafogo-SP,[18] Bragantino (two stints),[19][20] Atlético Sorocaba, Paysandu,[21] Comercial-SP[22] and Guarani.[23] He rescinded with the latter on 14 September,[24] joining Portuguesa a day after.[25]

Death

Benazzi died in Osasco on 22 May 2023, at the age of 68.[26]

Honours

Player

Portuguesa

Juventude

  • Copa Governador do Estado: 1975,[27] 1976[28]

Coach

Grêmio Sãocarlense

Taquaritinga

União Barbarense
  • Campeonato Paulista Série A2: 1998
Gama
Figueirense
Fortaleza

References

  1. ^ Alberti, Carolina (22 May 2023). "Como Vagner Benazzi conquistou o apelido de 'Rei dos Acessos'". UOL (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Conhecido como ' Rei do Acesso', Vagner Benazzi morre aos 68 anos". Gazeta de S.Paulo. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Vágner Benazzi, ex-lateral do Palmeiras e técnico especialista em acessos e fugas de rebaixamento, morre aos 68 anos". ESPN.com (in Portuguese). 22 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  4. ^ Pescarini, Fábio (22 May 2023). "Vagner Benazzi de Andrade (1954 - 2023) - Mortes: 'Rei do Acesso', fez história como jogador e técnico". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Benazzi volta à Lusa. Treinador tem a missão de evitar o rebaixamento". Lance (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Esporte Clube Juventude - Site Oficial - Notícias". www.juventude.com.br. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Identificação com Comercial e marcante no Botafogo-SP: clubes lamentam morte de Vagner Benazzi". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Vágner Benazzi - Que fim levou?". Terceiro Tempo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  9. ^ Nascimbene, Luana (22 May 2023). "Morre Vagner Benazzi, vice-campeão pelo Galo, aos 68 anos". Sampi Campinas (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Benazzi". futebol80.com.br. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  11. ^ "LUTO: Ex-técnico do MAC morre em Osasco aos 68 anos". Jornal da Manhã de Marília. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "Luto! Morre Vagner Benazzi, um dos principais treinadores do estado de São Paulo". Futebol Interior. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Morre Vagner Benazzi, ex-técnico que conquistou acesso do Grêmio São-carlense em 89". A Cidade. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Morre aos 68 anos o ex-técnico do União Barbarense, Vagner Benazzi". SBNotícias. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Morre Vágner Benazzi, técnico que fez história no União Barbarense". O Liberal. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  16. ^ Benazzi é o novo técnico (Benazzi is the new manager); Avaí's official website, 10 October 2010 (in Portuguese)
  17. ^ Benazzi deixa comando técnico (Benazzi leaves manager post); Avaí's official website, 14 February 2011 (in Portuguese)
  18. ^ Lori Sandri pede demissão, e Botafogo-SP contrata Vagner Benazzi (Lori Sandri resigns, and Botafogo-SP signs Vagner Benazzi); Terra, 10 February 2012 (in Portuguese)
  19. ^ Vagner Benazzi é o novo técnico do Bragantino (Vagner Benazzi is the new manager of Bragantino); Globo Esporte, 29 August 2012 (in Portuguese)
  20. ^ Após demitir Mazola, Bragantino anuncia a volta de Vágner Benazzi (After dismissing Mazola, Bragantino announces the return of Vágner Benazzi); IG Esporte, 31 May 2013 (in Portuguese)
  21. ^ Paysandu confirma novo técnico para sequência da Série B (Paysandu confirms new manager for the rest of Série B); Futebol Interior, 19 September 2013 (in Portuguese)
  22. ^ Mal no Campeonato Paulista, Comercial anuncia Vágner Benazzi (Badly in Campeonato Paulista, Comercial announces Vágner Benazzi); O Estado de S. Paulo, 7 February 2014 (in Portuguese)
  23. ^ Ameaçado de nova queda, Guarani anuncia Vágner Benazzi como técnico (Threatened by a new relegation, Guarani announces Vágner Benazzi); Esporte Interativo, 25 August 2014 (in Portuguese)
  24. ^ Vagner Benazzi se desliga do Guarani (Vagner Benazzi rescinds with Guarani); Guarani's official website, 14 September 2014 (in Portuguese)
  25. ^ Vagner Benazzi é o novo técnico da Portuguesa (Vagner Benazzi is the new manager of Portuguesa); Portuguesa's official website, 15 September 2014 (in Portuguese)
  26. ^ Morre ex-treinador importante da dupla Avaí e Figueirense (in Portuguese)
  27. ^ "Rio Grande do Sul Cup (Copa Governador do Estado) 1975". rsssfbrasil.com. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  28. ^ "Rio Grande do Sul Cup (Copa Governador do Estado) 1975". rsssfbrasil.com. Retrieved 10 June 2023.

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