Juan Pablo Vojvoda appointed new Racing Club coach

Argentine club Racing has appointed Juan Pablo Vojvoda as their new head coach, signing him to a one-year contract. The 51-year-old tactician will replace Gustavo Costas. The agreement was finalized on Thursday and is expected to be officially announced by the Avellaneda-based club shortly.

Vojvoda is recognized for his commitment to offensive football, a style influenced by his early coaching days at Newell's Old Boys under Marcelo Bielsa. He typically employs 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formations, aiming for his teams to dominate possession and dictate play in every competition.

His most recent role was with Brazilian club Santos, where he managed 34 matches (10 wins, 14 draws, 10 losses) and helped the team avoid relegation. Prior to that, Vojvoda enjoyed a highly successful four-year stint at Fortaleza, a rarity in Brazilian football. During his tenure, he led the club to five titles, including the Campeonato Cearense in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and the Copa do Nordeste in 2022 and 2024. He also guided them to the Copa Sudamericana final in 2023 and secured Copa Libertadores qualification for three consecutive seasons.

Racing will be Vojvoda's eighth club as a head coach. His career path includes leading Newell's, Defensa y Justicia, Talleres de Córdoba, Huracán, and Unión La Calera in Chile. At Fortaleza, club president Marcelo Paz praised Vojvoda's "aggressive style of play" and "warrior DNA," which resonated well with the club's identity and fans. Due to the pronunciation challenges of his surname, fans often affectionately nicknamed him "Vodka."

“

No nos fijamos en trofeos. El perfil de Vojvoda nos agradó por su estilo de juego agresivo, queríamos un técnico que le diese prioridad a la tenencia de balón. Además, Juan Pablo tiene el ADN guerrero con el que se identifican nuestros hinchas