Raí

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Lore & Background

Raí began his career at local club Botafogo, making his official debut in 1984. He later signed for Ponte Preta in 1986, but after injuries and loss of form returned to Botafogo, where he revived his career under Uruguayan coach Pedro Rocha. He joined São Paulo for the 1987 season. In 1992, he helped São Paulo win the Copa Libertadores, scoring the only goal in the second leg of the final to force a penalty shootout, and later scored both goals in the 2–1 victory over Barcelona in the 1992 Intercontinental Cup. He was named South American Footballer of the Year in 1992. In June 1993, he was acquired by Paris Saint-Germain for US$4.6 million, remaining with São Paulo until the end of the year. He helped PSG win the 1993–94 Division 1, the 1994–95 and 1997–98 Coupe de France, the 1994–95 and 1997–98 Coupe de la Ligue, and the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He returned to São Paulo in May 1998 and won the Campeonato Paulista in 1998 and 2000 before retiring in July 2000.

In Their Own Story

The final whistle blew at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and Brazil had just defeated Spain to win the gold medal. André Jardine, who had taken over the under-23 team after managing the under-20s, stood on the sideline as his players celebrated. It was the crowning achievement of a career that had started with under-10s at Internacional in 2003. Years later, in Mexico, Jardine would write another chapter. On 17 December 2023, Club América defeated Tigres UANL to win its 14th championship, making Jardine one of only five managers in the club's history to win the league trophy in their debut campaign. Six months later, América won its 15th championship, beating Cruz Azul 2–1 on aggregate. Then, on 15 December 2024, América won its third consecutive league championship under Jardine, defeating Monterrey to become the first tricampeón of Mexican football in its current format.

Reader's Guide

Raí is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Paris Saint-Germain's history. He often advanced from midfield to finish attacking moves and posed a particular danger from set pieces. His blend of technique and physical presence enabled him to influence matches both as a creator and as a scorer. Under Telê Santana at São Paulo, he developed greater tactical discipline and became a more complete midfielder. At PSG, he established himself as the central playmaker, dictating his team's attacking play from midfield. His footballing intelligence, composure and leadership were also regarded as important aspects of his game.

Did You Know?

• Raí scored both goals in São Paulo's 2–1 victory over Barcelona in the 1992 Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo.
• He was named South American Footballer of the Year in 1992.
• Raí captained Brazil during the group stage of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and scored a penalty in the opening match against Russia.
• He co-founded the Fundação Gol de Letra with former teammate Leonardo in December 1998.
• Raí became a shareholder and ambassador of Paris FC in July 2022.

Early Career Foundations

Jardine was born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. After representing Grêmio's youth categories, he started studying Engineering but graduated in Physical Education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.

International Adventures and Return

Seeking regular minutes, Ramos embarked on an international journey in 2018 with Shukura Kobuleti in Georgia's Erovnuli Liga 2. He returned to Brazil and Londrina in January 2019, where his involvement with the senior squad increased significantly compared to previous years. His trajectory continued upward as he departed for Oeste on October 22, 2020. Shortly after, on July 14 of the following year, he secured a contract with Varzim within Portugal's Liga Portugal 2. This period marked his experience in European football before heading back home. In July 2022, he rejoined Brazilian football by signing for Ituano. During the 2023 Campeonato Paulista season, he established himself as a regular starter, contributing to a strong campaign that saw the club advance all the way to the semifinals of the state competition.

Rise to Série A Football

A major career milestone occurred on March 24, 2023, when he was officially announced as a new signing for Série A side São Paulo FC. His contract with the club extended until the end of 2025. He made his debut for the famous institution on April 18, starting in a match against Academia Puerto Cabello during the Copa Sudamericana, which concluded with a comfortable two-nil home victory. However, to maintain competitive rhythm, he was loaned out on December 12, 2023, joining Ceará until November 2024. This loan spell proved successful as he helped the team secure the Campeonato Cearense title in 2024. Following this period, his tenure with São Paulo concluded via an amicable termination announced on social networks in January 2025, paving the way for a new chapter at Atlético Goianiense.

Honours and Career Milestones

Throughout his journey across various Brazilian states and international borders, Ramos has accumulated specific honors that highlight his contributions to team success. His first major trophy came during his loan spell with Operário Ferroviário in 2016, where he won the Taça FPF. Years later, while on loan at Ceará, he added another significant accolade by winning the Campeonato Cearense in 2024. Beyond trophies, his consistency has been a defining trait, particularly during his time at Ituano where he was instrumental in reaching the state championship semifinals. Playing primarily as a right-back, his career path reflects resilience through periods of limited play and international adaptation. The transition from youth setups to top-flight Série A football demonstrates a steady progression, culminating in his official announcement with Atlético Goianiense early in 2025 after leaving São Paulo FC.

Youth Coaching and Interim Roles

Jardine joined Internacional in 2003, being appointed manager of the under-10s. He took over all the club's youth categories during his ten-year stay, with his last team being the under-20s. On 24 September 2013, he returned to Grêmio after being named under-17 manager. On 27 July 2014, after Enderson Moreira's dismissal, Jardine was named interim manager, being in charge for one match (a 2–1 loss against Vitória) before the appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari. Subsequently, he was named assistant, but ended the year as the coordinator of the under-15s after having altercations with Scolari. In February 2015, Jardine moved to São Paulo and was appointed at the helm of the under-20s. He was interim manager on two occasions (in 2016 and 2018) before being named assistant in March 2018. On 11 November 2018, he was named interim until the end of the campaign, replacing sacked Diego Aguirre. On 25 November 2018, Jardine was appointed manager of Tricolor for the 2019 season. The following 14 February, however, he was removed from his manager role, but remained at the club.

Brazil National Team and Olympic Gold

On 3 April 2019, Jardine took over the Brazil national under-20 team, replacing Carlos Amadeu. Later that year, he became the manager of the under-23s. Brazil went on to win the gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics defeating Spain in the final.

Mexico and Historic Success

On 3 February 2022, Jardine took over Liga MX side Atlético San Luis. On 16 June 2023, Club América reached an agreement with Atlético San Luis and appointed Jardine as their new manager. He became the third Brazilian manager in the club's history after Jorge Vieira and Paulo Roberto Falcão. On 17 December 2023, Club América defeated Tigres UANL to win its 14th championship, making Jardine one of only five managers in the history of the club to win the league trophy in their debut campaign. Six months later, Club América won its 15th championship, beating Cruz Azul 2–1 on aggregate. On 15 December 2024, Club América won its third consecutive league championship under Jardine, defeating Monterrey to become the first tricampeón of Mexican football in its current format. The following Clausura, Jardine led the club to a fourth consecutive final, finishing as runners-up to Toluca. On 3 June 2026, Jardine and Club América parted ways by mutual agreement.

Move to UAE

On 17 June 2026, UAE Pro League club Shabab Al Ahli appointed Jardine as their new head coach.