Against All Odds: The Miraculous Rise of Mirassol Under Rafael Guanaes

As the Copa Libertadores kicks off in 2026, Brazilian football fans are in for a surprise when they scan the list of participating teams. Among the heavyweights of South American football is Mirassol, a small club from the outskirts of Sao Paulo. Their story is nothing short of remarkable. Alongside powerhouses like Flamengo, Fluminense, Corinthians, and Palmeiras, Mirassol finished fourth in the Brazilian league, despite being tipped for relegation as a newly promoted side with the smallest budget. Former Liverpool player Fabio Aurelio attempts to put this achievement into perspective, saying, "This is like Wrexham without the money," but even Wrexham has never been as low as the sixth tier like Mirassol was in 2018. At the start of the decade, Mirassol was still in Serie D, barely registering on the radar. However, bolstered by a sell-on clause from Luiz Araujo's move from Sao Paulo to Lille, they invested wisely in infrastructure, facilitating their rise through the divisions. This strategic move turned Mirassol into a destination club of sorts, attracting talent from the Sao Paulo region, known for being a hotbed of football talent. Yet, this doesn't fully explain the miracle of Mirassol. Finishing as the fourth-best team in Brazil upon their promotion to the top division for the first time in their history, and doing so by playing some of the most entertaining football on the continent, required the managerial magic of Rafael Guanaes. Guanaes, who had never managed at the highest level, attributes their success to "hard work." When he joined the club, his mantra was clear: "We had to be the team with the highest work rate in the championship." He ensured the players understood this vision, focusing on increasing their GPS numbers and pressing high, inspired by his admiration for Jurgen Klopp. Guanaes' love for metrics, such as winning the ball back within five seconds, adds to the extraordinary nature of Mirassol's achievement. They didn't just survive; they attacked the big boys. Guanaes talks about creating an environment that gave his players the courage and confidence to play their brand of football, characterized by lots of movement and variations, despite not having the greatest players. This approach worked spectacularly, with players trusting his vision. Guanaes, 45, is a persuasive figure, but there was little reason to believe in him initially, especially after his predecessor left upon promotion. However, Mirassol saw something special in Guanaes, who has always based his coaching around ball possession and controlling the opponent with and without the ball, even in his early days in the bottom division of the Sao Paulo State Championship. At Mirassol, everything came together, culminating in victories against Corinthians and Sao Paulo. Beating Fluminense in August was a key moment, securing their place in Serie A. Guanaes didn't just aim to survive; he told his players they could achieve the Copa Sudamericana and even the Copa Libertadores, and after beating Fluminense, he believed they could be champions. Guanaes, who is studying neuroscience to better understand how to deliver his ideas to his players, has a unique approach. His coaching ambitions began with Football Manager, where he spent hours building teams and learning about players. He never played as Mirassol since they weren't an option, but he's making up for it now. Guanaes is a student of the game, inspired by coaches like Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, and Roberto De Zerbi, and watches teams like Cesc Fabregas' Como and Luis Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain for ideas. He aims to build a legacy, and maybe one day, a move to Europe will come. For now, Mirassol faces an unsettling start to the season, with one win from the first nine games, leaving them bottom of the table ahead of their Copa Libertadores debut. Guanaes admits they are rebuilding after losing many players and are working on ensuring new players learn the Mirassol way. He acknowledges the challenge is bigger than last year but believes in his team's preparation for the Copa Libertadores. Despite the spotlight being much bigger, Guanaes and the directors are on the same page, focusing on the human being as well as the player. A successful run in the Copa Libertadores is not being ruled out, and maybe there's another chapter to the Mirassol miracle yet.