Fábio Matias

Fábio Henrique Matias (born 25 September 1979) is a Brazilian football coach, currently the head coach of Juventude.

Career

Matias was born in Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, São Paulo, and was a goalkeeper at União Barbarense's youth setup. He never played as a senior, and subsequently started his coaching career in 2000, as a goalkeeping and fitness coach for Rio Branco-SP's under-15 side.

Matias' first coaching experience occurred with his Guarani, being in charge of the under-17 squad. In 2011, he joined Desportivo Brasil to become their under-17 coach, and won the 2012 U17 Campeonato Paulista with the side.

Matias moved to Grêmio in 2014, again as an under-17 coach. On 20 February 2016, he signed for cross-town rivals Internacional under the same role, and was appointed in charge of the latter's under-20s the following year.

Matias left Inter on 23 February 2018, and took over Figuerense's under-20s roughly one month later. On 25 March 2019, he moved back to Internacional, again as coach of the under-20s. With the latter, he won the 2020 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior.

On 26 February 2021, after the departure of Abel Braga, Matias was named interim head coach of the first team for the first rounds of the 2021 Campeonato Gaúcho. His first match in charge occurred on 1 March, a 1–0 win over Juventude.

Matias subsequently returned to his previous role with the under-20s after Miguel Ángel Ramírez took over the main squad. On 21 July 2021, he was named head coach of Flamengo's under-20 side.

Matias left Fla on 6 May 2022, and joined Red Bull Bragantino to work with the reserve and under-23 team. On 8 January 2024, he moved to Botafogo to become the permanent assistant coach of their main squad.

On 22 February 2024, Matias was named interim head coach of Botafogo, after Tiago Nunes was dismissed. After just one defeat in ten matches, he returned to his previous role after the appointment of Artur Jorge.

On 12 June 2024, Matias was named head coach of Série B side Coritiba. On 23 July, after a 4–0 loss to Santos, he was sacked.

On 27 October 2024, Matias took over Juventude in the top tier, replacing Jair Ventura.