Emily Lima is the first female to take charge of the Brazil women’s national team. (Photo: CBF Oficial/Flickr)
Emily Lima is the new coach of the Brazil women’s national team, replacing Vadão. The federation made the announcement on Tuesday.
Lima, a former player, becomes the first woman to take charge of the team in its history. She has previously worked in Brazil and Europe.
Vadão helped Brazil win the gold medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games, but could not get the team past the round of 16 at the World Cup that same year. Brazil failed to make the podium on home soil at this year’s Olympics, losing to Sweden in the semifinals in a penalty-kick shootout before falling to Canada in the gold-medal match.
Lima’s first game in charge will be Dec. 7 against Costa Rica in Brazil’s annual December tournament, which will also feature Russia and Italy this year.
Lima, 36, most recently coached Sao Jose to a runner-up finish last month in the Brazilian Cup. She began coaching in Portugal in 2010 before taking charge of Juventus’ women’s team in 2012. In 2013, Lima took over as coach of the U-17 Brazil team.
As a player, Lima played for the Brazil U-17 national team but played for Portugal at the senior level, from 2007-09.
