(photo: Disclosure/Santos)
Santos announced this Tuesday afternoon (2/4) the hiring of coach Kleiton Lima for the women’s team. He returns to command the team less than seven months after being fired by the club, accused by players of sexual and moral harassment.
Kleiton Lima’s return to the role is a joint decision by the Santos board and included the participation of women’s football manager Thais Picarte, football coordinator Alexandre Gallo and president Marcelo Teixeira.
Kleiton Lima takes over from Bruno Silva, who was fired this Monday (1/4). Santos had a bad start in the Brazilian Women’s Championship, with four points in four rounds – one win, one draw and two defeats. The team occupies 12th place and is on the edge of the relegation zone.
This will be Kleiton’s third stint at the helm of Sereias da Vila. Previously, he led the team to titles in the Copa Libertadores (2009 and 2010), Copa do Brasil (2008 and 2009), Campeonato Paulista (2007 and 2010), Liga Nacional (2007 and 2009) and Copa Mercosul (2006). ).
Between one spell and another, Kleiton Lima directed the Brazilian women’s team. He held the position between 2009 and 2011.
The coach’s debut at Santos will be on the 12th (Friday), against Corinthians, in the fifth round of the Brazilian Championship. The ball rolls at 9:30 pm, in Vila Belmiro.
Harassment accusation
In 2023, players from the Santos squad came together and accused coach Kleiton Lima of sexual and moral harassment. The athletes reported the situations in letters, written by hand and anonymously, and delivered them to the club’s management.
Faced with internal pressure and publicity about the case, Santos decided to fire the coach and several other professionals on the coaching staff in September.
