Nelsinho Baptista - Managerial Career

Managerial Career

As a manager, he has coached several clubs, like the Brazilian clubs São Bento, Ponte Preta, Internacional (SP), Atlético Paranaense, América-SP, Novorizontino, Corinthians, Guarani, Palmeiras, Internacional, Cruzeiro, São Paulo, Portuguesa, Goiás and Flamengo. In 2005, Nelsinho Baptista was not very successful managing Santos, leaving the club after a 7–1 defeat to Corinthians at Estádio do Pacaembu, and a 4–0 defeat to Internacional at Estádio Anacleto Campanella. In 2006, he managed São Caetano. In 2007, he managed Ponte Preta again, and was Corinthians' manager when the club was relegated to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, and from December 2007 to 2009, he was Sport Recife's manager, where he won the 2008 Campeonato Pernambucano and the 2008 Copa do Brasil.

He managed several non-Brazilian clubs like Sporting Barranquilla of Colombia in 1989, Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia in 1993 and in 1994, Verdy Kawasaki of Japan from 1994 to 1996, Colo-Colo of Chile in 1999, and Nagoya Grampus Eight of Japan from 2003 to 2005. On May 28, 2009 Sport Club do Recife coach Batista has resigned most likely due to some personal problems with the team's most influential players.

In July 2009, Nelsinho returned to Japan to manage Kashiwa Reysol. Despite being unable to stave off relegation to J. League Division 2 at the end of the year, the club relented and allowed him to remain in charge. In 2011, Reysol under him won their first ever J. League Division 1 title, making history by becoming the first team to win the championship following promotion. In the same year, Nelsinho Baptista received the J. League Manager of the Year at the J. League awards in Yokohama.