Thiago Carpini Barbosa (born 16 July 1984), is a Brazilian professional football coach and former player who played as a defensive midfielder. He is the current head coach of Fortaleza.

Playing career

Born in Valinhos, São Paulo, Carpini made his senior debut with local side Guarani Sumareense[pt] in the 2004 Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão. In 2006, after playing in the year's Campeonato Capixaba for Estrela do Norte, he signed for Ponte Preta in the Série A.

Carpini made his top tier debut on 31 May 2006, starting in a 1–0 away win over Juventude. On 10 April 2007, he moved to fellow first division side Atlético Mineiro.

In July 2008, after being rarely used at Galo, Carpini agreed to a contract with Série B team América de Natal. On 23 December of that year, he was announced at Bahia.

Carpini began the 2011 season at CRAC, but returned to his home state with Inter de Bebedouro for the year's Copa Paulista. He subsequently rejoined CRAC before finishing the 2012 campaign at São José-SP.

In November 2012, Carpini was included in Monte Azul's squad for the upcoming season. After playing the 2013 Copa FGF with Novo Hamburgo, he represented Guarani-MG in the 2014 Campeonato Mineiro.

On 17 April 2014, Carpini joined Guarani in the Série C. He left the club in 2016 and joined Penapolense.

On 24 April 2017, Carpini was announced at Caldense for the Série D. He asked to leave the club on 6 June, after alleging personal reasons, and retired shortly after.

Coaching career

Early career

After retiring, Carpini started his coaching career as an assistant of Evaristo Piza at XV de Piracicaba. He followed Piza to Botafogo-PB, before returning to Guarani on 14 June 2019, as a permanent assistant coach.

Guarani

On 21 August 2019, after Roberto Fonseca's dismissal, Carpini was named interim head coach of Guarani. He was permanently appointed head coach of the club on 25 November, but left on 29 August 2020.

Oeste, Inter de Limeira and Santo André

On 30 September 2020, Carpini was named head coach of fellow second division team Oeste. He was sacked on 19 October, with the club in the last position.

Carpini was announced at Inter de Limeira on 26 November 2020. He left the club on 14 May 2021, after reaching the quarterfinals of the Campeonato Paulista.

On 4 October 2021, Carpini took over Santo André for the upcoming Paulistão. He also reached the quarterfinals of the tournament with the side before leaving.

Ferroviária

On 28 March 2022, Carpini replaced Elano at the helm of Série D side Ferroviária. He was dismissed on 23 May, after a poor run of form.

Água Santa

Eight days after leaving AFE, Carpini was appointed Água Santa head coach for the Copa Paulista. He led the club to the finals of the 2023 Campeonato Paulista, losing to Palmeiras; despite finishing second, he was named the tournament's best head coach.

Juventude

Carpini departed Água Santa on 13 May 2023 to take over Juventude in division two. With Ju in the penultimate position in his arrival, he renewed his contract with the club on 1 September, and led them to promotion in the 2023 Série B.

São Paulo

On 11 January 2024, it was announced that Carpini had agreed to become São Paulo's head coach in the place of Dorival Júnior; Tricolor paid a R$ 1 million fee for the coach. Under his leadership, São Paulo won the 2024 Supercopa do Brasil over rivals Palmeiras, with Carpini becoming the youngest head coach in the century to win a top tier title, at the age of 39. In the 2024 Campeonato Paulista, however, the club was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Novorizontino.

Carpini was sacked on 18 April 2024, after a poor start in both the 2024 Copa Libertadores and the Série A.

Vitória

On 14 May 2024, Carpini replaced Léo Condé at the helm of Vitória also in the top tier. On 9 July of the following year, after being knocked out of the 2025 Copa do Nordeste to Confiança, he was dismissed.

Juventude return

On 4 August 2025, Juventude announced the return of Carpini as head coach. On 4 December, with the club already relegated, he announced he would leave the club at the end of the season.

Fortaleza

On 11 December 2025, Carpini was appointed head coach of Fortaleza, also relegated to the second division, on a one-year deal.

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ponte Preta2006Série A120120
2007Série B00701080
Total1207010200
Atlético Mineiro2007Série A2020
200800200020
Total20200040
América de Natal2008Série B6060
Bahia2009Série B00601070
20100010001020
Total0070101090
CRAC2011Goiano154154
Inter de Bebedouro2011Paulista A300121121
CRAC2012Goiano9090
São José-SP2012Paulista A2000000
Monte Azul2013Paulista A2170170
Novo Hamburgo2013Gaúcho002020
Guarani-MG2014Mineiro110110
Guarani2014Série C120120
2015120150270
201600180180
Total240330570
Penapolense2016Paulista A2000000
Caldense2017Série D209010120
Career total460110430001511745

Managerial statistics

As of 16 April 2026

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecordRef
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
GuaraniBrazil21 August 201929 August 202042159184246−4035.71
OesteBrazil30 September 202019 October 2020401329−7000.00
Inter de LimeiraBrazil26 November 202014 May 202113607916−7046.15
Santo AndréBrazil4 October 202128 March 2022133641111+0023.08
FerroviáriaBrazil22 March 202223 May 20226123116+5016.67
Água SantaBrazil31 May 202213 May 20232791262929+0033.33
JuventudeBrazil13 May 202311 January 202432171143924+15053.13
São PauloBrazil11 January 202418 April 2024187652619+7038.89
VitóriaBrazil14 May 20249 July 2025752922248974+15038.67
JuventudeBrazil4 August 20257 December 20252266102434−10027.27
FortalezaBrazil11 December 2025present2213722715+12059.09
Total2721068185309283+26038.97

Honours

Manager

Água Santa

Juventude

São Paulo

Fortaleza

Individual

External links

  • at Sambafoot (archived)
  • at Soccerway (archived)
  • (in Portuguese)