Ceará Sporting Club confirmed on Friday (July 10, 2026) the signing of Carlos Larocca as the new U‑20 assistant coach, replacing Mateus Oliveira for the rest of the season.

Who is Carlos Larocca and what is his background?

The 33‑year‑old Argentine began his playing career in 2012 with a short stint at Independiente in Argentina. After retiring, he devoted over ten years to youth coaching at clubs such as Fluminense, Bahia and Fortaleza. He holds a Physical Education degree from Unifor and coaching licences from ATFA and CONMEBOL, plus a performance‑analysis certification.

What does Larocca’s arrival mean for Ceará’s academy?

The board expects Larocca’s international trophy record – titles in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy and Chile – to raise the technical level of the U‑20 side. He will join head coach Rogério Ferreira’s staff and focus on the Brazilian U‑20 Championship, the Cearense U‑20 Championship, the Fares Lopes Cup and the São Paulo Junior Cup.

How might his previous experience affect the young Alvinegros?

At Fluminense, Larocca led the U‑16 and U‑17 squads, becoming the club’s most successful international youth coach. With Bahia, he captured the Nordestinho Cup and Integration Cup with the U‑16 team. At Fortaleza, he won the state U‑17 title as head coach and a regional U‑20 title as assistant. This résumé brings tactical and methodological depth that could speed the promotion of prospects to the senior squad.

What’s next for the U‑20 team?

The immediate challenge is the group stage of the Fares Lopes Cup, scheduled for late July. The expectation is that Larocca’s influence will already be visible in training, especially in physical preparation and performance analysis, areas where he holds specific certification. The club has not released further contract details or long‑term targets, but the hire is already viewed as a strategic investment to keep Ceará competitive in youth football.

Carlos Larocca arrives at Ceará Sporting Club with a mission to reshape the development of young talent, reinforcing the Alvinegro tradition of producing players for Brazil’s top tier.