Cledson Rafael de Paiva (born 26 August 1984) is a Brazilian footballcoach, currently the interim head coach of Vasco da Gama.
Career
Born in Cambuí, Minas Gerais,[1] Paiva began his career as a fitness coach at Guarani before becoming an under-15 coach at Mogi Mirim in 2013. He subsequently worked under the same role at Desportivo Brasil and São Paulo, before being named in charge of the latter's under-17 team in March 2018.[2]
On 2 November 2021, after a period in China, Paiva was named under-17 coach of Vasco da Gama.[3] He left the club on 11 January of the following year,[4] and was announced at Palmeiras the following day, as an under-15 coach.[5]
In March 2022, Paiva was promoted to Palmeiras' under-17 side,[6] and led the side to two consecutive Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-17 and Copa do Brasil Sub-17 titles. On 23 January 2024, he returned to Vasco after being named in charge of the under-20 squad.[7]
On 27 April 2024, Paiva was named interim head coach of Vasco, after the departure of Ramón Díaz.[8] He led the club in four matches (which included a qualification in the 2024 Copa do Brasil)[9] before returning to his previous role after the appointment of Álvaro Pacheco on 21 May; on 20 June, however, he returned to an interim role, after Pacheco was sacked.[10]
