Juan Pablo Vojvoda

Juan Pablo Vojvoda Rizzo (born January 13, 1975) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a central defender. He is the current head coach of Brazilian club Fortaleza.

Juan Pablo Vojvoda
Vojvoda in 2023
Personal information
Full nameJuan Pablo Vojvoda Rizzo
Date of birth (1975-01-13) 13 January 1975 (age 49)
Place of birthGeneral Baldissera, Argentina
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)Centre back
Team information
Current team
Fortaleza (head coach)
Youth career
Cruz Alta
1989–1995Newell's Old Boys
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1995–2003Newell's Old Boys126(4)
2002–2003Compostela (loan)28(0)
2003–2005Algeciras55(0)
2005–2006Cultural Leonesa32(0)
2006–2009Baza106(11)
2009–2010Tiro Federal34(0)
2010–2012Sportivo Belgrano80(1)
2012–2013Sarmiento de Leones [es]24(1)
Total485(17)
Managerial career
2013–2017Newell's Old Boys (youth)
2016Newell's Old Boys (caretaker)
2017Newell's Old Boys (caretaker)
2017–2018Defensa y Justicia
2018–2019Talleres
2019Huracán
2020–2021Unión La Calera
2021–Fortaleza
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Born in General Baldissera but raised in Cruz Alta, Vojvoda joined Newell's Old Boys' youth setup at the age of 14.[1] He made his senior debut with the main squad in 1995, and went on to feature regularly in the following seven seasons, never establishing himself as a regular starter.

In 2002 Vojvoda moved abroad, after signing for Segunda División side SD Compostela on loan for one year.[2] He stayed in the country for the following six seasons, representing Algeciras CF,[3] Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa[4] and CD Baza.[5]

Vojvoda returned to his home country on 15 July 2009, joining Tiro Federal of the Primera B Nacional.[6] He subsequently played for Sportivo Belgrano[7] and Sarmiento de Leones,[8] retiring with the latter in 2013 at the age of 38.

Managerial career

Newell's Old Boys

Vojvoda during a press conference with Newell's Old Boys in 2016

Shortly after retiring Vojvoda took up coaching, being in charge of the youth categories of his first club Newell's. On 10 July 2015, he was named manager of the club's reserve side.[9] He was also an interim manager of the first team for two occasions: in 2016[10] and in 2017.[11]

Defensa y Justicia

On 7 October 2017, Vojvoda was named manager of Defensa y Justicia.[12] He left the club on 28 May 2018, after receiving an offer from fellow league team Talleres de Córdoba.[13]

Talleres de Córdoba

Vojvoda was announced as manager of Talleres on 28 May 2018, just hours after leaving Defensa.[14] On 23 May 2019, he agreed to leave the club on a mutual agreement.[15]

Huracán

In May 2019, Vojvoda was appointed manager of Club Atlético Huracán for the 2019–20 season.[16] He was sacked on 15 September, after a 4–0 loss to River Plate and only one win in seven matches.[17]

Unión La Calera

Vojvoda during a press conference with Unión La Calera in 2020

Vojvoda took over Chilean Primera División side Unión La Calera on 30 December 2019.[18] He led the club to the second position of the 2020 Chilean Primera División, qualifying the club to the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history.

On 18 February 2021, Vojvoda left La Calera on a mutual agreement.[19]

Fortaleza

Vojvoda managing Fortaleza in 2023

On 4 May 2021, Vojvoda was appointed head coach of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Fortaleza.[20] He won the first title of his career late in the month, as the club defeated rivals Ceará to lift the 2021 Campeonato Cearense.[21]

Vojvoda led Fortaleza to their first ever qualification to the Copa Libertadores, after finishing in an impressive fourth position in the 2021 Série A.[22] He lifted a second consecutive title of the Cearense in 2022, and also won the year's Copa do Nordeste.[23][24]

Vojvoda led Fortaleza to a second consecutive Libertadores qualification after finishing eighth in the 2022 Série A, despite ending the first round of the tournament in the last position.[25] He renewed his contract with the club until 2024 on 18 November 2022,[26] and won the 2023 Campeonato Cearense, his fourth accolade while in charge of Leão.[27]

Personal life

Born in Argentina, Vojvoda is of Croatian and Italian descent, and holds an Italian passport.[28][29]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Newell's Old Boys1995–96Primera División8080
1996–978080
1997–98200200
1998–99241241
1999–2000192192
2000–01251251
2001–02220220
Subtotal12641264
Compostela (loan)2002–03[30]Segunda División28010290
Algeciras2003–04[30]Segunda División21010220
2004–05[30]Segunda División B34010350
Subtotal55020570
Cultural Leonesa2005–06[30]Segunda División B320320
Baza2006–07[30]Segunda División B342342
2007–08[30]3502[a]0370
2008–09[31]Tercera División379379
Subtotal106112010811
Tiro Federal2009–10Primera B Nacional340340
Sportivo Belgrano2010–11Torneo Argentino A440440
2011–1236120381
Subtotal80120821
Sarmiento de Leones [es]2012–13Torneo Argentino B241241
Career total4851750002049217

Managerial statistics

As of match played 26 May 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecordRef.
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
Newell's Old Boys (caretaker) 16 February 201622 February 2016210164+2050.00[32]
Newell's Old Boys (caretaker)4 June 201727 June 2017704326−4000.00
Defensa y Justicia12 October 201730 June 20182514383825+13056.00[33]
Talleres1 July 201823 May 201936148144536+9038.89[34]
Huracán1 June 201915 September 20197133510−5014.29[35]
Unión La Calera 1 January 202018 February 2021411810136950+19043.90[19]
Fortaleza 5 May 2021present2321125961371231+140048.28
Total35016087103536362+174045.71

Honours

Manager

Fortaleza

References

External links