Career
Born in Campinas, São Paulo, Baptista started playing for Juventus as a central defender. However, due to his lack of temper on the field, he was advised to leave football by his father, Nelsinho. [1]
In 2002, after spells at clubs in his native state, Baptista joined his father's staff at Goiás, as a fitness coach. The duo remained together for the following nine years, only splitting due to the Japanese tsunami in 2011, when both were at Kashiwa Reysol; Eduardo subsequently returned to Sport Recife (club which he already worked from 2007 to 2009) while Nelsinho remained at Kashiwa. [1]
On 31 January 2014 Baptista was appointed interim coach, replacing fired Geninho. [2] On 14 February he was definitely appointed as head coach, [3] and led the side to both Campeonato Pernambucano and Copa do Nordeste winning campaigns.
On 17 September 2015, Baptista left Sport and was appointed at Fluminense, replacing fired Enderson Moreira. [4] On 25 February 2016, after only two wins in six matches, he was sacked by Flu. [5] On 15 April, he replaced Alexandre Gallo at Ponte Preta's reign. [6]
Baptista took Ponte to an impressive eighth place in the league, only four points shy of qualifying for the continental championship. On 2 December 2016 he resigned, [7] and signed a one-year contract with Palmeiras fourteen days later. [8]
On 4 May 2017, Baptista was relieved from his duties at Verdão. [9] He was named Atlético Paranaense head coach on 23 May, [10] but was sacked nonetheless on 10 July. [11]
On 20 September 2017, Baptista returned to Ponte. [12] Dismissed the following 9 March, [13] he took over Coritiba on 16 April 2018, [14] but was sacked from the latter club on 10 August. [15]
On 15 August 2018, Baptista returned to Sport, replacing Claudinei Oliveira and joining the club four months after his father Nelsinho left the very same role. [16] He resigned on 24 September, after just eight matches, [17] and was announced as Vila Nova head coach on 23 February 2019. [18]
Sacked by Vila on 13 July 2019, [19] Baptista was named in charge of CSA the following 10 February. [20] Dismissed by the latter on 30 August 2020, [21] he was appointed head coach of Mirassol four days later. [22]
Baptista led Mirassol to their first-ever national title in the 2020 Série D, and managed to avoid relegation in the 2021 Série C. On 11 November 2021, he was appointed Remo head coach, [23] with a return to Mirassol for the 2022 season also agreed. [24]
On 2 March 2022, a day after knocking out Grêmio of the 2022 Copa do Brasil, Baptista announced his departure from Mirassol. [25] The following day, he was announced as head coach of Juventude in the top tier, [26] but was sacked from the latter on 20 June, with the club in the last position. [27]
On 28 August 2022, Baptista was named Atlético Goianiense head coach, [28] but left on 29 September after just six matches. [29] On 16 November, he was presented at Novorizontino for the upcoming season. [30]
