 Zago in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Antônio Carlos Zago | ||
| Date of birth | (1969-05-18)18 May 1969 (age 56) | ||
| Place of birth | Presidente Prudente, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Corinthians-PP | |||
| 1983–1986 | Ubiratan | ||
| 1988–1989 | São Paulo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986–1988 | Ubiratan | ||
| 1990–1992 | São Paulo | 111 | (8) |
| 1992 | Albacete | 12 | (1) |
| 1993–1995 | Palmeiras | 145 | (8) |
| 1996–1997 | Kashiwa Reysol | 24 | (0) |
| 1997 | Corinthians | 21 | (2) |
| 1998–2002 | Roma | 107 | (2) |
| 2002–2004 | Beşiktaş | 56 | (2) |
| 2004–2005 | Santos | 8 | (0) |
| 2005–2007 | Juventude | 53 | (3) |
| 2007 | Santos | 15 | (1) |
| Total | 552 | (27) | |
| International career | |||
| 1991–2001 | Brazil | 37 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2009–2010 | São Caetano | ||
| 2010 | Palmeiras | ||
| 2010 | Grêmio Prudente | ||
| 2011 | Mogi Mirim | ||
| 2011 | Vila Nova | ||
| 2012 | Audax São Paulo | ||
| 2013 | Roma (assistant) | ||
| 2013–2015 | Shakhtar Donetsk (assistant) | ||
| 2015–2016 | Juventude | ||
| 2017 | Internacional | ||
| 2017 | Fortaleza | ||
| 2017–2018 | Juventude | ||
| 2018–2019 | Red Bull Brasil | ||
| 2019 | Bragantino | ||
| 2020–2021 | Kashima Antlers | ||
| 2021–2022 | Bolívar | ||
| 2023 | Coritiba | ||
| 2023–2024 | Bolivia | ||
| 2025 | The Strongest | ||
| 2025 | Botafogo-PB | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Antônio Carlos Zago (born 18 May 1969), sometimes known as justAntônio Carlos or simplyZago, is a Brazilian professionalfootballcoach and former player who played as acentre back.
Born inPresidente Prudente,São Paulo, also having Italian origins, Zago moved toDourados,Mato Grosso do Sul as a teenager, and began his senior career with local sideUbiratan, as aforward and being known asTonhão.[1] In 1988, after finishing theCampeonato Sul-Mato-Grossense as a starter as Ubiratan finished in the second position, he agreed to joinSão Paulo, with five players moving in the opposite direction.[2]
Upon arriving at São Paulo, Zago was known asAntônio Carlos, and was pushed back tomidfielder by managerCilinho. He was later moved further back to alibero by the reserves managerPupo Gimenez,[3] and made his first team debut on 25 April 1990 by starting in a 2–0Campeonato Paulista away win overPortuguesa.
After the arrival ofTelê Santana as manager, Zago established himself as a regular starter, winning twoCampeonato Paulista (1991 and1992), aside from lifting the1991 Série A and the1992 Copa Libertadores.
In July 1992, Zago was transferred toLa Liga sideAlbacete Balompié for a fee ofUS$ 1.650 million.[4] However, after failing to adapt to a new country, he opted to leave in December.
In December 1992, Zago was presented atPalmeiras, along withRoberto Carlos.[5] A first-choice option, he won two consecutive Série A and two consecutive Campeonato Paulista titles withVerdão, both in 1993 and 1994.
On 7 December 1995, Palmeiras agreed the transfer of Zago and teammateEdílson to Japanese clubKashiwa Reysol, for a combined fee ofR$ 5 million.[6] He was a regular starter during the 1996 season, but opted to leave for personal reasons.
In April 1997, Zago returned to his home country after signing forCorinthians, for a fee of US$3.3 million.[7] In August, he assaulted anAtlético Paranaense doctor, being later suspended for 40 days in September.[8]
In January 1998, Zago moved to the Italian capital to joinRoma for a fee of US$4 million,[9] at the request of the club's managerZdenek Zeman, who was looking to reinforce the team's defensive line. In hisSerie A debut with the club, on 11 February 1998 atLecce, he was sent off after only a few minutes of play; his performances with thegiallorossi soon improved, however, and he was able to demonstrate his quality and skill, leading to him being recalled to the Brazilian national side in 1999. Zago played for five seasons with Roma, and was also part of the2001Scudetto-winning team; Zago partnered with compatriotAldair and ArgentineWalter Samuel to form a sold back-line, which aided Roma in claiming the Serie A title. Due to his success and performances with Roma, Zago still remains a popular figure with the romanista fans, who nicknamed himTerminator during his time at the club.[10]
In November 1999 Zago was the protagonist of a shocking episode, when he spat onLazio playerDiego Simeone's face during aderby match. The outcome was a positive attitude towards him by the fans, who paid tribute to his action in the song "Brusco", the phrases "Zago: spits fire as a dragon" and "people can only keep their mouth shut, otherwise AC Zago will spit at them". Zago is also one of the few Brazilian players who is known with his name and surname. During the years he spent to Rome he had chosen his name on the shirt to be written in different ways, the first "ANTÔNIO CARLOS", then "AC ZAGO" then simply "ZAGO."[11]
In 2002, after nearly joiningBolton Wanderers,[12] Zago left Roma. In May, he went to Turkey and signed withBeşiktaş for two years.[13]
On 6 August 2004, Zago returned to Brazil and signed a contract withSantos.[14] He only featured sparingly for the club, and left in March 2005 after playing just nine matches.[15]
On 6 April 2005, Zago joinedJuventude on a deal until the end of the year.[16] In March 2006, he was suspended for 60 days after being accused of racism in aCampeonato Gaúcho match againstGrêmio.[17]
On 29 December 2006, Zago returned to Santos, reuniting with managerVanderlei Luxemburgo.[18] He retired in November 2007, aged 38.[19]
Zago debuted with theBrazil national team on 30 October 1991, in a 3–1 win againstYugoslavia, and remained within the national squad until 1993. After a period of mixed success at club level, however, he has no longer called up to the national side; only after moving to Roma, did he manage return to the national team with his stand-out performances for the club. Between 1998 and 2001, he collected 26 caps for Brazil and scored two goals; he was also part of the squad that won the1999 Copa América. In total, he made 37 appearances for Brazil between 1991 and 2001, scoring three goals.
Shortly after retiring, Zago returned to Corinthians as a technical director.[19] He resigned from the role in March 2009, after controversies regarding the signing ofRonaldo.[20]
On 2 June 2009, Zago was appointed manager ofSão Caetano in theSérie B, replacingSérgio Soares.[21] He missed eight matches between September and October after serving a 45-day suspension,[22] and renewed his contract for the following season on 8 November,[23] as his side subsequently finished seventh.
Zago's side started the2010 Campeonato Paulista with two wins in three matches, and defeated his former side Palmeiras 4–1 atParque Antártica on 17 February.[24] Two days later, he left the club after accepting an offer from Palmeiras.[25]
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On 19 February 2010, Palmeiras announced Zago as their new manager.[26] He made his debut at the club two days later, in a 2–0 home win over another side he represented as a player, São Paulo.[27]
However, Palmeiras ended the 2010 Paulista with five winless matches under Zago, and after an alleged fight with playerRobert, he was dismissed on 18 May.[28]
After leaving Palmeiras, Zago took over fellow top tier sideGrêmio Prudente on 17 August 2010.[29] On 10 September, after only one win in six matches and with the club in the relegation zone, he was sacked.[30]
On 3 January 2011, Zago was named manager ofMogi Mirim,[31] but left on 9 February to manageVila Nova.[32] He was dismissed by the latter on 25 March, after just seven matches,[33] and was announced as manager ofAudax São Paulo on 23 November.[34]
On 27 December 2012, Zago left Audax to return to Roma, now as an assistant coach ofZdeněk Zeman.[35] On 16 October 2013, he was appointed byFC Shakhtar Donetsk as their new assistant manager, joining his former Beşiktaş coachMircea Lucescu.[36]
In August 2015, Zago returned to Brazil after being named at the helm of Juventude.[37] He finished second in the2016 Campeonato Gaúcho with the club, knocking out Grêmio in the semifinals, and also achieved promotion in the2016 Série C.
On 11 December 2016, Zago announced his departure fromJu.[38]
On 12 December 2016, Zago was appointed as the new head coach ofInternacional, replacingLisca, who was sacked on 11 December, only hours after the team were relegated for the first time in Brazilian history.[39] On 28 May 2017, he was dismissed.[40]
On 20 August 2017, Zago was announced the new coach ofFortaleza.[41] He helped the side return toSérie B after an eight-year absence, but announced his departure on 26 October.[42]
On 26 October 2017, shortly after achieving promotion with Fortaleza, Juventude announced the return of Zago as their manager.[43] He was sacked on 22 February, after being eliminated in theCopa do Brasil.[44]
On 5 September 2018, Zago was appointed manager ofRed Bull Brasil for the2019 Campeonato Paulista.[45] Ahead of the2019 Série B, asBragantino was bought by Red Bull, he became their manager, and led the side to promotion as champions.
On 2 January 2020, Zago was announced as manager ofKashima Antlers.[46] He was sacked on 14 April 2021, after a poor run of form.[47]
On 14 July 2021, Zago was announced as manager ofClub Bolívar, months after the club was announced as partner of theCity Football Group.[48] On 12 November 2022, after winning the2022 Apertura with the club, he left.[49]
On 22 April 2023, Zago returned to Brazil and its top tier, after being named in charge ofCoritiba.[50] He was sacked on 27 June, after no wins in 11 matches.[51]
On 31 October 2023, Zago was officially announced asBolivia national football team new head coach, replacing the sackedGustavo Costas.[52] The following 18 July, after a poor performance in the2024 Copa América, he was sacked.[53]
On 12 January 2025, Zago returned to Bolivia after being named manager ofThe Strongest.[54]
On 7 April 2025, Zago was announced as head coach ofBotafogo-PB back in his home country.[55] On 12 May, after just six matches, he was sacked.[56]
| Club | Season | League | State League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| São Paulo | 1990[58] | Série A | 21 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 1 | ||
| 1991[59] | 21 | 1 | 30 | 4 | — | — | — | 51 | 5 | |||||
| 1992[60] | 23 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 13[a] | 2 | — | 39 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 65 | 4 | 46 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 2 | — | 130 | 10 | |||
| Albacete | 1992–93[61] | La Liga | 12 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| Palmeiras | 1993[62] | Série A | 18 | 1 | 34 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 57 | 3 | |
| 1994[63] | 22 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7[a] | 0 | — | 51 | 3 | |||
| 1995[64] | 20 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10[a] | 0 | — | 64 | 2 | |||
| Total | 60 | 4 | 85 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 172 | 8 | ||
| Kashiwa Reysol | 1996 | J1 League | 24 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 5[c] | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 6[c] | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 24 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||||
| Corinthians | 1997 | Série A | 12 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 2 | ||
| Roma | 1997–98 | Serie A | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 1998–99 | 28 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 7[d] | 0 | — | 37 | 0 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | 27 | 2 | — | 2 | 0 | 8[d] | 0 | — | 37 | 2 | ||||
| 2000–01 | 28 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||||
| 2001–02 | 12 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 5[e] | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 20 | 0 | |||
| Total | 107 | 2 | — | 7 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 138 | 2 | |||
| Beşiktaş | 2002–03 | Süper Lig | 31 | 2 | — | 2 | 0 | 7[d] | 0 | — | 40 | 2 | ||
| 2003–04 | 25 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7[g] | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 56 | 2 | — | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | — | 72 | 2 | ||||
| Santos | 2004 | Série A | 7 | 0 | — | — | 1[h] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Juventude | 2005 | Série A | 30 | 2 | — | — | 2[h] | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | |||
| 2006 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 23 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 52 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 55 | 3 | ||||
| Santos | 2007 | Série A | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | — | 7[a] | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 396 | 18 | 156 | 9 | 27 | 0 | 77 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 670 | 29 | ||
| Brazil national team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1991 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 1992 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| 1993 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1998 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 1999 | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2000 | 10 | 2 | ||||
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 37 | 3 | ||||
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| São Caetano |  | 2 June 2009 | 19 February 2010 | 35 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 62 | 39 | +23 | 045.71 | |
| Palmeiras | | 19 February 2010 | 18 May 2010 | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 047.37 | [65] |
| Grêmio Prudente | | 17 August 2010 | 10 September 2010 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 016.67 | [66] |
| Mogi Mirim | | 3 January 2011 | 9 February 2011 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 033.33 | |
| Vila Nova | | 9 February 2011 | 25 March 2011 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 057.14 | [67] |
| Audax | | 23 November 2011 | 27 December 2012 | 51 | 25 | 9 | 17 | 81 | 63 | +18 | 049.02 | [68] |
| Juventude | | 17 August 2015 | 11 December 2016 | 54 | 24 | 16 | 14 | 80 | 54 | +26 | 044.44 | |
| Internacional | | 12 December 2016 | 28 May 2017 | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 47 | 27 | +20 | 046.67 | [69] |
| Fortaleza | | 20 August 2017 | 26 October 2017 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 8 | +0 | 033.33 | |
| Juventude | | 28 October 2017 | 22 February 2018 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 23 | −11 | 013.33 | [70] |
| Red Bull Brasil | | 5 September 2018 | 23 April 2019 | 31 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 45 | 26 | +19 | 051.61 | |
| Bragantino | | 23 April 2019 | 24 December 2019 | 38 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 64 | 27 | +37 | 057.89 | |
| Kashima Antlers |  | 2 January 2020 | 13 April 2021 | 48 | 23 | 7 | 18 | 78 | 64 | +14 | 047.92 | |
| Bolívar |  | 14 July 2021 | 12 November 2022 | 77 | 42 | 12 | 23 | 162 | 68 | +94 | 054.55 | [71] |
| Coritiba | | 22 April 2023 | 27 June 2023 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 22 | −13 | 000.00 | |
| Bolivia | | 31 October 2023 | 18 July 2024 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 23 | −16 | 020.00 | |
| The Strongest | | 12 January 2025 | 7 April 2025 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 025.00 | |
| Botafogo-PB | | 7 April 2025 | 12 May 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | +0 | 016.67 | |
| Total | 457 | 207 | 106 | 144 | 719 | 506 | +213 | 045.30 | ||||
São Paulo
Palmeiras
Corinthians
Roma
Beşiktaş
Santos
Brazil
Internacional
Bragantino
Bolívar
International tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||
