Cuca · Biography

The first title of Alexi Stival's career, the man known as Cuca, came in 1988, when he won the Campeonato Gaúcho with Grêmio. He was born on 7 June 1963 in Curitiba, in the state of Paraná. He was a midfielder for more than a decade and then became a coach. From the dugout he won the 2013 Copa Libertadores and two Brazilian league titles, in 2016 and 2021.

Playing career

He made his professional debut in 1984 with Santa Cruz, a club from inland Rio Grande do Sul, and played for Juventude from 1985 to 1987. In 1987 he joined Grêmio, where he had the best years of his playing career. There he won three Campeonato Gaúcho titles in a row (1988, 1989 and 1990), the 1989 Copa do Brasil and the 1990 Supercopa do Brasil. In 1990 he played in Spain for Valladolid. Back in Brazil, he won the 1991 Gaúcho with Internacional and then played for Grêmio and Palmeiras in 1992, Santos in 1993, and Portuguesa and Remo in 1994. With Remo he won the 1994 Campeonato Paraense. After another spell at Juventude in 1995, he finished his playing career at Chapecoense, winning the 1996 Campeonato Catarinense.

The Bern case

In July 1987, during a Grêmio tour of Switzerland, Cuca and three teammates were accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in Bern. On 15 August 1989, a Swiss court gave them 15-month sentences under an open regime, plus a fine. They never served the sentences, which lapsed. In November 2023, the Swiss courts annulled the case at his defence's request, because Cuca had not been heard at trial. The ruling did not consider the evidence.

Early coaching years

He began coaching in 1998 at Uberlândia. Over the following years he managed many sides, often for short spells, including Avaí, Brasil de Pelotas, Inter de Limeira, Remo, Gama, Criciúma, Paraná and Goiás. In 2004 he moved up to São Paulo and Grêmio, and in 2005 he took charge of Flamengo, Coritiba and São Caetano. From 2006 to 2008 he spent what was then his longest spell at any club, at Botafogo, winning the Taça Rio in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 he won the Campeonato Carioca with Flamengo and later that year took over Fluminense, whom he kept in the top flight. In 2011 he won the Campeonato Mineiro with Cruzeiro.

The Libertadores with Atlético Mineiro

He arrived at Atlético Mineiro in 2011 and built an attacking side around Ronaldinho, Bernard and Jô. He won the Mineiro in 2012 and 2013. On 24 July 2013, the club won the Copa Libertadores for the first time, beating Paraguay's Olimpia on penalties in the final at the Mineirão. He left for China at the end of 2013.

China, Palmeiras and Santos

From 2014 to 2015 he coached Shandong Luneng, winning the 2014 Chinese FA Cup and the 2015 Chinese Super Cup. He returned to Brazil in 2016 to coach Palmeiras and won the Brazilian league title that year, the club's first since 1994. He had another spell at Palmeiras in 2017, coached Santos in 2018 and São Paulo in 2019. During his second spell at Santos, in 2020 and 2021, he led the club to the 2020 Copa Libertadores final, which they lost to Palmeiras at the Maracanã in January 2021.

The 2021 treble

He went back to Atlético Mineiro in 2021. That season the club won the Campeonato Mineiro, the Brazilian league title for the first time since 1971, and the Copa do Brasil. He stepped down at the end of that year and returned for another spell in 2022.

From 2023 to 2026

Corinthians announced him as head coach on 20 April 2023, but he left on 27 April, after two matches and after protests by some fans over the Bern conviction. In 2024 he coached Athletico Paranaense and won the Campeonato Paranaense. In December 2024 he began a fourth spell at Atlético Mineiro. He won the 2025 Mineiro and was sacked on 29 August 2025. On 19 March 2026, Santos appointed him to replace Juan Pablo Vojvoda.