Dado Cavalcanti

Coaching career Cavalcanti began his career after an invitation from Muricy Ramalho, at that time Náutico first-team trainer, and subsequently joined the youth team's staff.

Cavalcanti left Santa in July 2010, and was named América-RN head coach on 13 September. Despite failing to avoid relegation, he remained in charge of the club until the following March, when he was dismissed.

Cavalcanti subsequently managed Central, Icasa, Ypiranga-PE and Luverdense in the following two years, winning the Campeonato Mato-Grossense with the latter. Ahead of the 2013 season, he was appointed Mogi Mirim head coach, taking the club to the semifinals of the year's Campeonato Paulista and being named the best head coach of the tournament.

On 6 May 2013, Cavalcanti was named head coach of Paraná. On 13 December, he was appointed head coach of state rivals Coritiba for the 2014 campaign, but was sacked the following 31 March after being knocked out of the Campeonato Paranaense.

On 13 April 2014, Cavalcanti took over Ponte Preta in the place of departing Vadão, but was relieved from his duties on 21 July. On 12 August, he was named in charge of first club Náutico, leading the club to a 13th position in the Série B.

On 2 December 2014, Cavalcanti was announced as the new head coach of fellow second division side Ceará, being fired the following 12 February with only nine games in charge. Late in the month, he took over Paysandu; he won the 2016 Campeonato Paraense and the 2016 Copa Verde, but was sacked on 7 June 2016.

On 1 August 2016, however, Cavalcanti was again appointed head coach of Paysandu, remaining in charge of the club until the end of the campaign. On 2 December he was named at the helm of Náutico, but left the club on 16 February of the following year. He subsequently managed CRB, only lasting three months in charge.

Cavalcanti returned to Paysandu on 13 February 2018, but was sacked on 12 July. On 17 October, he returned to Paraná, with the club seriously threatened with relegation.

Cavalcanti was sacked from Paraná on 2 April 2019, and was subsequently named head coach of Bahia's under-23 squad late in the month. He left the club in the following April to take over Ferroviária, but was sacked on 1 October.

On 26 October 2020, shortly after being dismissed by Ferroviária, Cavalcanti returned to Bahia as a youth football coordinator. On 21 December, he was named first team head coach after the departure of Mano Menezes.

Cavalcanti won the 2021 Copa do Nordeste with Bahia, but was sacked on 17 August of that year after a poor form in the league. On 22 December, he was named head coach of rivals Vitória for the ensuing campaign.

After finishing in the fifth position in the 2022 Campeonato Baiano, Cavalcanti was replaced by Geninho on 17 March 2022. On 15 May, he returned to the second level after being named head coach of Vila Nova, but was sacked on 2 July after nine winless matches.

On 21 August 2022, Cavalcanti returned to Náutico after five years. He was kept for the 2023 season despite the club's relegation, but was sacked on 15 May 2023, after a poor start in the year's Série C.

On 10 July 2023, Cavalcanti returned to América de Natal after nearly ten years. He was unable to avoid relegation with the club, but still took part of Fernando Diniz's coaching staff in the Brazil football team, as an assistant.

On 26 October 2023, Cavalcanti was announced as head coach of Portuguesa for the 2024 season, but was dismissed the following 8 February, after just one win in five matches.

Coaching statistics

Honours Manager Ulbra Ji-Paraná Campeonato Rondoniense: 2006, 2007

Santa Cruz Copa Pernambuco: 2009

Luverdense Campeonato Mato-Grossense: 2012

Paysandu Campeonato Paraense: 2016, 2018 Copa Verde: 2016, 2018

Bahia Copa do Nordeste: 2021

Individual Best head coach of Campeonato Pernambucano: 2010 Best head coach of Campeonato Paulista: 2013