Cuca (footballer)

Alexi Stival (born 7 June 1963), commonly known as Cuca, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a forward, and manager, currently without a club.

Cuca
Personal information
Full name Alexi Stival[1]
Date of birth (1963-06-07) 7 June 1963
Place of birth Curitiba, Brazil
Playing position(s) Forward
Youth career
Pinheiros-PR
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1985 Santa Cruz-RS
1985–1987 Juventude
1987–1989 Grêmio 48 (19)
1990–1991 Valladolid 12 (4)
1991 → Internacional (loan) 13 (3)
1992 Palmeiras
1993 Santos 9 (2)
1994 Portuguesa 0 (0)
1994 Remo 13 (2)
1995 Juventude 14 (1)
1996 Chapecoense
1996 Coritiba 8 (0)
National team
1991 Brazil 1 (0)
Teams managed
1998 Uberlândia
1999 Avaí
1999 Brasil de Pelotas
2000 Inter de Limeira
2000 Avaí
2001 Inter de Lages
2001 Remo
2001–2002 Criciúma
2002 Gama
2003 Paraná
2003 Goiás
2004 São Paulo
2004 Grêmio
2005 Flamengo
2005 Coritiba
2005 São Caetano
2006–2007 Botafogo
2007–2008 Botafogo
2008 Santos
2008 Fluminense
2009 Flamengo
2009–2010 Fluminense
2010–2011 Cruzeiro
2011–2013 Atlético Mineiro
2014–2015 Shandong Luneng
2016 Palmeiras
2017 Palmeiras
2018 Santos
2019 São Paulo
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He made one appearance for the Brazil national team in 1991. Since his retirement, he has been the manager of a number of clubs, mostly in his native country.

Playing career

Club

Born in Curitiba, Cuca started his career with Santa Cruz-RS after graduating with hometown side Pinheiros.[2] He moved to Juventude in May 1985, and was a regular starter for the club until his transfer to Grêmio in July 1987.[3]

While at Grêmio, Cuca scored the decisive goal of the 1989 Copa do Brasil Final against Sport.[4] He moved abroad for the first time in his career in August 1990, spending six months at La Liga side Real Valladolid.[5]

Upon returning to Brazil, Cuca joined Grêmio's fierce rivals Internacional on loan.[6] After struggling with injuries, he featured regularly for Palmeiras[7] and Santos.[8]

Cuca was signed by Portuguesa ahead of the 1994 season, but failed to impress.[9] He subsequently represented Remo, Chapecoense and Coritiba, retiring with the latter in 1996 at the age of 33.

International

Cuca played one game for the Brazilian national team on 27 February 1991, against Paraguay, at Morenão, Campo Grande.[10]

Managerial career

Shortly after retiring, Cuca started managing Uberlândia in 1997. He was subsequently in charge of Avaí (two stints), Brasil de Pelotas, Internacional de Limeira, Internacional de Lages, Remo,[11] Criciúma, Gama, Paraná[12] and Goiás,[13] gaining notoriety with the latter after taking the latter club in the last position of the 2003 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and avoiding relegation by finishing ninth.

On 17 December 2003, Cuca was appointed manager of São Paulo in the place of Roberto Rojas.[14] He was dismissed the following 2 September, after being knocked out of the year's Copa Libertadores in the semifinals and dropping to the seventh place in the league.[15] Eight days after leaving São Paulo, he was named Grêmio manager,[16] but could not avoid the club's first-ever relegation.

On 3 February 2005, Cuca replaced Júlio César Leal at the helm of Flamengo,[17] Dismissed on 15 April,[18] he took over Coritiba on 6 May.[19]

Cuca was sacked by Coxa on 12 October 2005,[20] being appointed in charge of São Caetano on 9 November.[21]

On 22 May 2006, Cuca was presented as the new Botafogo manager.[22] He resigned on 28 September 2007,[23] but returned to the club on 7 October after the departure of Mário Sérgio;[24] he resigned for a second time on 29 May 2008.[25]

Cuca was appointed Santos manager on 2 June 2008,[26] but resigned on 7 August after the club was seriously threatened with relegation.[27] He returned to Flamengo on 12 December,[28] after a two-month spell at Fluminense,[29] but was relieved from his duties the following 23 July.[30]

Cuca returned to Flu on 1 September 2009, replacing Renato Gaúcho.[31] Sacked on 19 April of the following year,[32] he took over Cruzeiro on 8 June 2010[33] and managed to lead the club to a second place, two points shy of champions and former club Fluminense. He left the side on 19 June 2011, being replaced by Joel Santana.[34]

On 8 August 2011, Cuca was announced as new manager of Atlético Mineiro, replacing Dorival Júnior.[35] He won the 2012 Campeonato Mineiro and also lifted the 2013 Copa Libertadores, but on 18 December 2013, after a 3–1 defeat to Raja Casablanca, he was dismissed.[36]

On 21 December 2013, just three days after being sacked by Galo, Cuca was appointed at the helm of Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng.[37] He announced his departure from the club on 6 December 2015, after winning the Chinese FA Cup and the Chinese FA Super Cup.[38]

On 14 March 2016, Cuca replaced Marcelo Oliveira at the helm of high-spending Palmeiras.[39] He led the club to a Série A title after 22 years, but opted to resign on 30 November, alleging "personal reasons".[40]

Cuca returned to Verdão on 5 May 2017, replacing fired Eduardo Baptista and signing a contract until the end of 2018.[41] On 13 October, he was himself dismissed, with his assistant Alberto Valentim taking his place.[42]

On 30 July 2018, Cuca was appointed manager of Santos for the second time.[43] He took the club out of the relegation zone, but left after finishing in a disappointing tenth position due to a health problem.[44]

On 14 February 2019, Cuca agreed to a two-year contract with São Paulo, effective as of 15 April due to his heart condition.[45]

Honours

Player
Grêmio
Internacional
Chapecoense

Manager
Botafogo
Flamengo
Cruzeiro
Atlético Mineiro
Shandong Luneng
Palmeiras

Individual

References
  1. "Cuca, a vingança do 'azarado'". BOL Notícias. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  2. "Cuca, um curitibano em casa" [Cuca, a Curitiba-born at home] (in Portuguese). Tribuna PR. 29 May 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  3. "A presença de Cuca no Estádio Alfredo Jaconi" [The presence of Cuca at the Alfredo Jaconi] (in Portuguese). Clic RBS. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  4. "Grêmio conquistou a Copa do Brasil no estádio Olímpico em 1989 e 1994" [Grêmio conquered the Copa do Brasil at the Olímpico in 1989 and 1994] (in Portuguese). Vavel. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  5. "El brasileño Cuca, ídolo en Valladolid" [The Brazilian Cuca, idol at Valladolid] (in Portuguese). El País. 17 October 1990. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  6. "Cuca, sombra para El Pibe" [Cuca, shadow for El Pibe] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 22 November 1991. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  7. "Ex-parceiro de Evair, Cuca volta ao Palmeiras para buscar título que escapou em 1992" [Former partner of Evair, Cuca returns to Palmeiras to seek for title which slipped in 1992] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  8. "Lembra dele no Santos? Técnico Cuca já vestiu a Dez alvinegra" [Remember him at Santos? Manager Cuca already wore the alvinegra Ten] (in Portuguese). Filho de Peixe. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  9. "Cuca – Alexi Stival" (in Portuguese). Acervo da Bola. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  10. "Brazil – Paraguay". Sambafoot. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  11. "Cláudio Duarte cai e Cuca é o novo técnico do Remo" [Cláudio Duarte falls and Cuca is the new manager of Remo] (in Portuguese). Terra. 23 August 2001. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  12. "Cuca é o novo técnico do Paraná Clube" [Cuca is the new manager of Paraná Clube] (in Portuguese). Tribuna PR. 1 March 2003. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  13. "Goiás contrata o técnico Cuca do Paraná Clube" [Goiás sign the manager Cuca from Paraná Clube] (in Portuguese). Imirante. 26 May 2003. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  14. "Cuca é o novo técnico do São Paulo" [Cuca is the new manager of São Paulo] (in Portuguese). Terra. 17 December 2003. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  15. "Técnico Cuca deixa o comando do São Paulo" [Manager Cuca leaves São Paulo] (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 2 September 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  16. "Cuca é o novo técnico do Grêmio" [Cuca is the new manager of Grêmio] (in Portuguese). Terra. 10 September 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  17. "Cuca é o novo técnico do Flamengo" [Cuca is the new manager of Flamengo] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 3 February 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  18. "Cuca é demitido pelo Flamengo" [Cuca is dismissed by Flamengo] (in Portuguese). UOL. 15 April 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  19. "Cuca é o novo técnico do Coritiba" [Cuca is the new manager of Coritiba] (in Portuguese). Terra. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  20. "Após derrota, Cuca é demitido no Coritiba" [After defeat, Cuca is sacked at Coritiba] (in Portuguese). Terra. 12 October 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  21. "Cuca é o novo técnico do São Caetano" [Cuca is the new manager of São Caetano] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  22. "Cuca é apresentado como novo técnico do Botafogo" [Cuca is presented as the new manager of Botafogo] (in Portuguese). Tribuna PR. 22 May 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  23. "Cuca não é mais técnico do Botafogo" [Cuca is no longer manager of Botafogo] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  24. "Mário Sérgio é demitido do Botafogo, que chama Cuca de volta" [Mário Sérgio is sacked from Botafogo, which bring back Cuca] (in Portuguese). Gazeta do Povo. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  25. "Técnico Cuca pede demissão do Botafogo" [Manager Cuca resigns from Botafogo] (in Portuguese). Extra Online. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  26. "Cuca é o novo treinador do Peixe" [Cuca is the new manager of Peixe] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  27. "Cuca pede demissão do Santos após derrota na Vila Belmiro" [Cuca resigns from Santos after defeat at the Vila Belmiro] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  28. "Cuca é o novo técnico do Flamengo" [Cuca is the new manager of Flamengo] (in Portuguese). CR Flamengo. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  29. "Após mais um tropeço, Cuca é demitido do Fluminense" [After another defeat, Cuca is sacked from Fluminense] (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  30. "Flamengo anuncia a demissão do técnico Cuca" [Flamengo announce the sacking of manager Cuca] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  31. "Desmotivado, Renato Gaúcho é demitido do Flu, e dirigente confirma Cuca" [Unmotivated, Renato Gaúcho is sacked from Flu, and board member confirms Cuca] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  32. "Fluminense anuncia demissão de Cuca" [Fluminense announce sacking of Cuca] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  33. "Cuca é o novo treinador do Cruzeiro" [Cuca is the new manager of Cruzeiro] (in Portuguese). IG. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  34. "Cuca deixa Cruzeiro; Joel Santana assume clube" [Cuca leaves Cruzeiro; Joel Santana takes over] (in Portuguese). Terra. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  35. "Cuca replaces Dorival Junior at Atletico Mineiro". Sambafoot. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  36. "Sem Mundial e sem técnico: Kalil confirma a saída de Cuca do Galo" [No Club World Cup and no manager: Kalil confirms departure of Cuca from Galo] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  37. "Cuca posa como técnico de clube chinês antes do fim do Mundial" [Cuca poses as manager of Chinese club before the end of the Club World Cup] (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  38. "Shandong Luneng confirma saída de Cuca e contratação de Mano Menezes" [Shandong Luneng confirm departure of Cuca and signing of Mano Menezes] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  39. "Cuca assina contrato até o fim de 2016 e é o novo técnico do Palmeiras" [Cuca signs contract until the end of 2016 and is the new manager of Palmeiras] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  40. "Palmeiras oficializa a saída do técnico Cuca "por questões pessoais"" [Palmeiras turn official the departure of manager Cuca "for personal reasons"] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  41. "Cuca é o novo técnico do Palmeiras; contrato vai até dezembro de 2018" [Cuca is the new manager of Palmeiras; contract goes until December 2018] (in Portuguese). SE Palmeiras. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  42. "Após decisão em comum acordo, Cuca não é mais técnico do Palmeiras" [After agreement, Cuca is no longer manager of Palmeiras] (in Portuguese). SE Palmeiras. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  43. "Cuca é o novo técnico do Santos FC" [Cuca is the new manager of Santos FC] (in Portuguese). Santos FC. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  44. "Aliviado, Cuca se despede e deseja sorte ao futuro treinador do Santos" [Relieved, Cuca bids farewell and wishes luck to the future manager of Santos] (in Portuguese). Lance!. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  45. "São Paulo contrata Cuca" [São Paulo sign Cuca] (in Portuguese). São Paulo FC. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  46. "足协杯-麦克格文压哨绝杀 鲁能5-4舜天夺冠". Sports.sina.com.cn. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  47. "Palmeiras tem oito na seleção do Brasileirão, Gabriel Jesus é o craque". sportv.com (in Portuguese).
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