Paraná Clube failed on the field and off it; retrospective 2023

O Paraná Club entered the 2023 season knowing that it would be one of the most complicated years in its history. Without a national calendar, as it had not managed to qualify for Series C and had been relegated in Paranaense, Tricolor would still have to live with the Access Division dispute without the support of its fans.

With the relegation in the previous state, fans invaded the Vila Capanema lawn and the club ended up being punished by playing matches behind closed doors at the Durival Britto Stadium.

Bet on a new command and an old partnership

For the start of the season, Paraná started with a new coach. And the name of Marcão pleased the crowd when announced. The coach, who had done a good job with São Joseense, was confirmed for the reconstruction of Tricolor on the field.

Behind the scenes, the Paranista board allied itself with a partner that had not brought results in the past. The entrepreneur Marcos Amaralowner of Amaral Sports, acted as a “strongman” for the Paraná football department.

Main reinforcement was unable to repeat good performances

In the squad, the big news for Paranista fans was the renewal of the contract with the experienced goalkeeper. Philip. A highlight of the team in the 2022 Series D dispute, the archer extended his contract and was loaned at the beginning of the year, as Paraná would only play in April.

However, Felipe dealt with injuries when he was on loan at Capital-DF and ended up not even playing for the Candango club. Back in Paraná, Felipe played as a “sacrifice” and was unable to repeat his good performances from the previous year.

The biggest embarrassment in the history of Paraná Clube?

On paper, the Paraná started in the Access Division dispute as the main club in the competition. But in practice the story was different.

After starting with a victory over Toledo, Tricolor found its fans again in the game against Andraus, who had control of the field for the duel. The case was reported to the TDJ-PR due to the “reversal of command”. The clubs ended up being punished with a fine of R$50,000.

On the field, Paraná scored two goals and ended up getting a draw, frustrating the Paranista fans. The same scenario occurred in the next game, against PSTC. Paraná opened up a two-goal lead and, even with one more player, conceded a draw.

Tricolor’s streak of victories continued against Grêmio Maringá (1 to 1), Apucarana (1 to 0), results that culminated in the dismissal of coach Marcão. The team also did not beat Laranja Mecânica (1-1), when it was already led by coach Fahel Júnior.

Rehabilitation only came in the seventh round, with the away victory over Iguaçu. In the penultimate round, Paraná beat relegated Araucária 3-0 and went all or nothing in farewell to the Silver Series.

But the last round took on the appearance of a horror film for the fans. Against the already classified Patriotas, Tricolor had been winning and guaranteeing classification until the last minute. However, they drew and ended up eliminated from the competition. A shower of cold water on the club’s plans.

The following day, the board commented on the elimination in a video recorded and released on the club’s social media. Led by president Rubens Ferreira e Silva, known as Rubão, the Management Council apologized to the fans, praised businessman Marcos Amaral and ruled out a resignation that had been requested by the fans.

Hope has a name: SAF

For 2024, Paraná fans hope that the club can rebuild itself and guarantee its return to the elite of Paraná football. And hope has a name in Vila Capanema: SAF. The club is very close to an agreement to sell 90% of its shares to a group of investors, led by Carpa Family Office.

In the proposal, the group even tried to incorporate another club to “skip stages” and compete in the first state division, the Copa do Brasil and Série D in 2024, but there was no agreement and Paraná will only have the Access Division ahead. next year.

The transformation to the Sociedade Anônima do Futebol would guarantee R$430 million in investments to Tricolor over ten years. The sale of the club has already been approved by the Tricolor Deliberative Council and also by the Judicial Recovery court, which approved the sale on December 12th.

It is the hope of rebuilding the club that was born giant, but lost relevance on the national scene after disastrous and incompetent administrations.