Fortaleza: Almanac Brasileirão 2023

Club

Fortaleza Esporte Clube.

Foundation

October 18, 1918.

Stadium

Arena Castelão. Capacity: 63,903 spectators.

Mascot

Lion King.

Kits and Sporting Goods Suplier

Volt Sport. Shirt nº 1 blue and red,  shirtnº 2 white.

Master sponsor

Novibet. BRL 17.5 million per year.

Main titles

1 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2018.

2 Copas do Nordeste: 2019 e 2022.

46 Campeonatos Cearenses: 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 e 2023.

Ranking in the Last 3 Brasileiros

2020: 16º Place, 41 points, 10 wins, 11 draws and 17 defeats, 34 goals scored and 44 goals conceded.

2021: 4º Place, 58 points, 17 wins, 7 draws and 7 defeats, 44 goals scored and 45 goals conceded.

2022: 8º Place, 55 points, 15 wins, 10 draws and 13 defeats, 46 goals scored and 39 goals conceded.

Main Signings for the Season:

• Dudu, right back, signed from Atlético-GO. Traded 40%, undisclosed amounts.
• Pikachu, right back and midfielder, loan until the end of 2023 from Shimizu S-Pulse, from Japan.
• João Ricardo, goalkeeper, free in the ex Ceará market, contract until the end of 2024.
• Bruno Pacheco,left back, signed from Ceará until the end of 2024. 80% of Bruno Pacheco’s rights for R$ 2 million.
• Martín Lucero, striker, signed from Colo-Colo. $1 million.
• Tomás Pochettino, midfielder, contract until December 31, 2025, acquired 80% of the economic rights with Austin FC, from the United States.
• Calebe, midfielder, 50% of the economic rights for R$ 6 million, bought from Atlético-MG. Contract until December 31, 2026.
• Guilherme, striker, loan contract until the end of 2023, coming from Grêmio.

Coach

Juan Pablo Vojvoda, 48 years old, at the club since May 2021.

Squad

Goalkeepers:

João Ricardo, nº 1, Brazilian, 06/09/1988 (34 years)

Mauricio Kozlinski, nº 30, Brazilian, 13/04/1996 (27 years)

Fernando Miguel, nº 16, Brazilian, 02/02/1985 (38 years)

Centerbacks:

Marcelo Benevenuto, nº 5, Brazilian, 07/01/1996 (27 years)

Tobias Figueiredo, Portuguese, 02/02/1994 (29 years)

Tinga, nº 2, Brazilian, 01/09/1993 (29 years)

Bernardo Schappo, nº 14, Brazilian, 22/03/1999 (24 years)

Titi, nº 4, Brazilian, 12/03/1988 (35 years)

Right backs:

Yago Pikachu, nº 22, Brazilian, 05/06/1992 (31 years)

Dudu, nº 20, Brazilian, 30/05/1997 (26 years)

Brítez, nº 19, Argentine, 26/03/1992 (31 years)

Left backs:

Lucas Esteves, nº 13, Brazilian, 24/06/2000 (23 years)

Bruno Pacheco, nº 6, Brazilian, 08/12/1991 (31 years)

Gonzalo Escobar, Argentine, 16/03/1997 (26 years)

Defensive midfielders:

Zé Welison, nº 17, Brazilian, 11/03/1995 (28 years)

Lucas Sasha, nº 88, Brazilian, 01/03/1990 (33 years)

Vinícius Zanocelo, nº 25, Brazilian, 30/01/2001 (22 years)

Caio Alexandre, nº 8, Brazilian, 24/02/1999 (24 years)

Hércules, nº 35, Brazilian, 20/10/2000 (22 years)

Midfielders:

Lucas Crispim, nº 10, Brazilian, 19/06/1994 (29 years)

Calebe, nº 27, Brazilian, 30/04/2000 (23 years)

Tomás Pochettino, nº 7, Argentine, 01/02/1996 (27 years)

Sammuel, nº 26, Brazilian, 21/12/2001 (21 years) – Formed in the youth squad.

Wings:

Pedro Rocha, nº 32, Brazilian, 13/04/1996 (27 years)

Romarinho, nº 11, Brazilian, 13/04/1996 (27 years)

Marinho, nº 15, Brazilian, 29/05/1990 (33 years)

Guilherme, nº 29, Brazilian, 13/04/1995 (28 years)

Strikers:

Renato Kayzer, Brazilian, 17/02/1996 (27 years)

Thiago Galhardo, nº 91, Brazilian, 20/07/1989 (33 years)

Lucero, nº 9, Argentine, 30/11/1991 (31 years)

Silvio Romero, nº 18, Argentine, 22/07/1988 (34 years)

Formed in the youth squad:

Sammuel, nº 26, brasileiro, 21/12/2001 (21 years)

Fortaleza only relies on Sammuel, a homegrown player, in its squad, but the midfielder doesn’t usually step onto the field.

Market Value

39,15 mi. € according to transfermarkt.com

Probable Starting Lineup for the Brazilian Championship 2023

Lineup:

João Ricardo, Brítez, Titi, Benevenuto, Yago Pikachu, Hércules (Zé Welison), Caio Alexandre, Bruno Pacheco, Pochettino (Calebe), Guilherme (Lucero), Thiago Galhardo.

Most used formation:

3-5-2, 4-2-3-1.

Calcio Deal Review About The Squad

Fortaleza started the season by winning the Campeonato Cearense title and securing first place in the Sudamericana, so the expectation is that the team will compete at the top of the table.

In recent rounds of the Brasileirão, Vojvoda has been using a formation with 3 defenders, where the “fullbacks” push forward and play in an advanced role, contributing greatly to the attacking phase. Thus, from the defense, the idea is always to accelerate the play, especially towards the wings, through switching the play, aiming to quickly set up Galhardo or Lucero for finishing opportunities.

In midfield, the main standout is Caio Alexandre, who has been having a great season, and his passing ability is the main weapon for connecting with the forward players. The midfielder utilizes his excellent long-range passing to find the attackers and wingers. He also joins the attack effectively, frequently entering the box and creating goal-scoring opportunities.

Finally, in the attack, Lucero and Thiago Galhardo are responsible for providing moments of offensive control for Fortaleza, as they hold up the ball and wait for their teammates to join the attacking phase. The duo has already scored 29 goals this season, proving to be of utmost importance for the team. Thus, their good form has led Vojvoda to occasionally opt for a lineup with two center-forwards.

Considering that Fortaleza is an extremely well-organized team, with a coach who knows how to effectively utilize the squad, the expectation for Leão do Pici (Fortaleza’s nickname) is that they are contenders for a spot in the Libertadores.