Daniel Paulista

Daniel Pollo Baroni (born 5 May 1982), known as Daniel Paulista, is a Brazilian professional football coach and former player who played as a defensive midfielder. He is the current head coach of Ceará.

Playing career Daniel Paulista was born in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, and started his career at hometown club Comercial. In 2003, he moved to Santos, being the immediate backup of Paulo Almeida as the club finished second in the league.

In 2004, Daniel Paulista was deemed surplus to requirements by new head coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, and was released on 6 July of that year. He would play for Juventude, Sertãozinho and São Caetano in the following two years, only impressing with the latter.

In 2007 Daniel Paulista moved to Corinthians, but was loaned to Náutico in May of that year. On 2 January 2008, after his loan expired, he signed for Sport.

In September 2008, after winning the year's Copa do Brasil, Daniel Paulista moved abroad for the first time of his career, after agreeing to a four-year deal with Romanian Liga I club FC Rapid București for a € 800,000 fee. The following January, however, he left the club after appearing rarely, and subsequently returned to former club Sport.

Daniel Paulista left the Leão in January 2012, after struggling with several injuries. He subsequently represented Botafogo-SP, Comercial, Audax and ABC, retiring with the latter in 2014 at the age of 32.

Coaching career In July 2014 Daniel Paulista returned to Sport, as Eduardo Baptista's assistant. On 17 September of the following year, as Baptista left for Fluminense, he was named interim head coach until the arrival of Paulo Roberto Falcão.

On 13 October 2016, Daniel Paulista was appointed as first team coach until the end of the year, replacing Oswaldo de Oliveira. He returned to his previous role in the following year, but subsequently acted as interim on two more occasions.

On 7 May 2018, Daniel Paulista took over Boa Esporte, but left the club less than two months later. He was appointed in charge of Confiança the following 12 March, leading the club to their promotion to the Série B.

On 15 February 2020, Daniel Paulista returned to Sport, being named head coach in the place of sacked Guto Ferreira, but was himself sacked on 24 August. On 16 September, he returned to his former club Confiança.

On 10 May 2021, after being knocked out of the year's Campeonato Sergipano, Daniel Paulista left Confiança on a mutual agreement. Thirteen days later, he replaced Allan Aal at the helm of Guarani.

On 4 May 2022, Daniel Paulista left Bugre on a mutual agreement. Ten days later, he took over CRB also in the second tier. He was sacked from the latter on 3 November, but returned to the club on 29 May 2023.

Daniel Paulista was sacked from CRB on 4 September 2024, after nine winless matches. The following 13 March, he replaced Rodrigo Santana at the helm of Remo also in the second division.

On 6 June 2025, Daniel Paulista asked to leave Remo to return to Sport, after the club paid his release clause; his new club announced him as head coach the following day. He was sacked on 28 October, with the club seriously threatened with relegation.

On 9 December 2025, Daniel Paulista returned to the second division after taking over Goiás. He led the club to the 2026 Campeonato Goiano with an unbeaten status, but was sacked on 24 June, after a run of four winless matches. The following day, he was announced as head coach of fellow league team Ceará.

Managerial statistics

Honours Player Santos Copa Paulista: 2004 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2004

Sport Campeonato Pernambucano: 2008, 2009, 2010 Copa do Brasil: 2008

Manager CRB Campeonato Alagoano: 2024

Remo Campeonato Paraense: 2025

Goiás Campeonato Goiano: 2026