Souza Takes Charge At Amazonas Ahead Of State Final, Triggers Title Push
Cristian Ziani de souza has been appointed head coach of Amazonas FC and will take the job ahead of the Campeonato Amazonense final against Nacional FC next weekend, the club announced.
Appointment Details
The club confirmed the 48-year-old coach will assume command of the first team for the remainder of the 2026 season. The new coach arrives at a decisive moment: Amazonas FC faces Nacional FC in the state championship final, a match that will decide the Campeonato Amazonense title. The coach is scheduled to be presented to the squad on the afternoon of Sunday, 15, when he will also lead his first training session and is expected to make his debut in the upcoming final.
Souza’s Track Record
Souza brings prior experience in the Amazon region and beyond. In 2023 he led Manauara to the Campeonato Amazonense final, finishing as runners-up to Amazonas FC, and in 2024 he had a short spell with Manaus FC. His most recent club before this appointment was Joinville of Santa Catarina. His career has included roles at Esportivo-RS, Pelotas-RS, Ceará SC, CSA-AL, Botafogo-PB, Luverdense-MT and Marcílio Dias-SC, plus more recent work with Manauara and Joinville. Born in Quaraí (RS), he has worked across regional and national competitions over the course of his career.
Immediate Stakes And Next Steps
The immediate pressure on the new coach is clear: secure a positive result in the state final and deliver a championship. In his first public remarks after the appointment, he described himself as motivated and familiar with the reality of football in the region, framing the job as an opportunity for both growth and maturation. He also expressed belief that the club has the conditions to return to Série B and said he is ready for that challenge.
Amazonas FC also faces no further national cup commitments this season after elimination from the Copa do Brasil 2026, a development that concentrates the club’s attention on the state title and the broader goal the new coach outlined. The team’s next competitive match is the state final against Nacional FC, which reached the decider after defeating RPE Parintins.
With the presentation and first training scheduled before the title match, the club will reveal the coach’s starting lineup and tactical approach imminently. Observers will watch whether the late change in leadership alters the team’s preparations or game plan for a fixture that carries immediate silverware and momentum implications for the remainder of the season.
The appointment brings a familiar, regionally experienced coach into a high-stakes environment; the next steps — his first training, the final itself and the immediate aftermath — will determine whether the change of leadership yields the desired title push or further turbulence for the club.
