Mano Menezes

Menezes was born in Passo do Sobrado, Rio Grande do Sul, and started playing football at amateur hometown side EC Rosário, a club which his father was president at the time; initially a forward, he was later sent back to the midfield before establishing himself as a centre-back. He subsequently played for local sides Fluminense de Mato Leitão and Guarani de Venâncio Aires, helping the latter to win the 1988 Campeonato Gaúcho de Futebol Amador and playing in the Campeonato Gaúcho Segunda Divisão in the following years. After three more years playing, he retired to become a coach.

Early years

After retiring, Menezes was an assistant of Guarani's under-20 team in 1992, before taking over as head coach of the side in the following year. He was named head coach of the first team ahead of the 1997 season, but was sacked and spent a period of observation with Paulo Autuori at Cruzeiro; he returned to Guarani in 1999, being again dismissed. In 2000, Menezes was named coach of Internacional's under-17 team, and returned to Guarani in 2002 after a short period with Inter's under-20 team. He led the club to the first position in the second round of the 2002 Campeonato Gaúcho and to the subsequent final win over São Gabriel; the title, however, was given to Internacional after a final stage was introduced. He later had a short spell at Brasil de Pelotas in the second division of the Gauchão. Menezes returned to Guarani for a fourth spell as head coach in 2003, but left after having altercations with the squad. He then spent three months in charge of Iraty, as the club finished last of their group in the 2003 Série C.

15 de Novembro and Caxias

Ahead of the 2004 season, Menezes was named head coach of 15 de Novembro. He led the club to the semifinals of the 2004 Copa do Brasil, defeating Vasco da Gama in the process, and subsequently took over Série B side Caxias in June of that year.

Grêmio

On 22 April 2005, Menezes named head coach of Grêmio in the second division. He led the club to a promotion to the Série A as champions in a match…