James Freitas

{{Infobox football biography

| name = James Freitas

| image =

| fullname = James Francisco Freitas Iahnke

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|8|16|df=yes}}

| birth_place = São Lourenço do Sul, Brazil

| currentclub = Grêmio (interim)

| manageryears1 = 2000 | managerclubs1 = Grêmio (women)

| manageryears2 = 2001 | managerclubs2 = Internacional U17 (assistant)

| manageryears3 = 2002 | managerclubs3 = Brasil de Farroupilha U20

| manageryears4 = 2003 | managerclubs4 = {{ill|Grêmio Esportivo São José|lt=São José de Cachoeira|pt}} U20

| manageryears5 = 2004 | managerclubs5 = Santa Cruz-RS U20

| manageryears6 = 2005–2008 | managerclubs6 = Grêmio U17

| manageryears7 = 2008–2009 | managerclubs7 = Juventude U17

| manageryears8 = 2009 | managerclubs8 = Juventude U20

| manageryears9 = 2009 | managerclubs9 = Juventude (interim)

| manageryears10 = 2010 | managerclubs10 = Internacional U20

| manageryears11 = 2011 | managerclubs11 = Luverdense (assistant)

| manageryears12 = 2011 | managerclubs12 = Guaraní (assistant)

| manageryears13 = 2011 | managerclubs13 = Guaraní (interim)

| manageryears14 = 2012–2013 | managerclubs14 = Juventude U20

| manageryears15 = 2012 | managerclubs15 = Juventude B

| manageryears16 = 2013–2015 | managerclubs16 = Grêmio U20

| manageryears17 = 2015 | managerclubs17 = Grêmio (interim)

| manageryears18 = 2015–2016 | managerclubs18 = Grêmio (assistant)

| manageryears19 = 2016 | managerclubs19 = Grêmio (interim)

| manageryears20 = 2017 | managerclubs20 = Cruzeiro (assistant)

| manageryears21 = 2018 | managerclubs21 = Palmeiras (assistant)

| manageryears22 = 2019 | managerclubs22 = Cruzeiro (assistant)

| manageryears23 = 2019–2020 | managerclubs23 = Atlético Mineiro (assistant)

| manageryears24 = 2020 | managerclubs24 = Atlético Mineiro (interim)

| manageryears25 = 2020–2021 | managerclubs25 = Bahia (assistant)

| manageryears26 = 2021 | managerclubs26 = Fluminense (assistant)

| manageryears27 = 2021–2022 | managerclubs27 = Athletico Paranaense U23

| manageryears28 = 2022–2023 | managerclubs28 = Grêmio (assistant)

| manageryears29 = 2023 | managerclubs29 = Cerro Porteño (assistant)

| manageryears30 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs30 = Coritiba (assistant)

| manageryears31 = 2024 | managerclubs31 = Coritiba (interim)

| manageryears32 = 2024– | managerclubs32 = Grêmio (assistant)

| manageryears33 = 2025– | managerclubs33 = Grêmio (interim)

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

James Francisco Freitas Iahnke (born 16 August 1968), known as James Freitas, is a Brazilian football coach. He is the current interim head coach of Grêmio.

Career

Freitas was born in São Lourenço do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, and started his career in lower clubs in his state, as a fitness coach. His first managerial experience came up in 2000, as he took over Grêmio's women squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.bol.uol.com.br/esporte/2015/05/23/tecnico-interino-do-gremio-comandou-algoz-do-corinthians-e-time-feminino.htm|title=Técnico interino do Grêmio comandou algoz do Corinthians e time feminino|trans-title=Interim manager of Grêmio was in charge of Corinthians' headsman and women's squad|publisher=BOL|language=pt-BR|date=23 May 2015|access-date=27 February 2020}}

After being an assistant of Internacional's under-17 squad, Freitas took over the under-20 sides of Brasil de Farroupilha, {{ill|Grêmio Esportivo São José|lt=São José de Cachoeira|pt}}{{cite web|url=http://srv-web2.diariopopular.com.br/08_11_03/au071102.html|title=Esporte: Amadores do Lobão voltam a campo hoje|trans-title=Sport: Amateurs of Lobão return to training today|publisher=Diário Popular|language=pt-BR|date=8 November 2003|access-date=27 February 2020}} and Santa Cruz-RS before returning to Grêmio in 2005, as manager of the under-17s. He left the club in 2008 for Juventude,{{cite web|url=http://www.juventude.com.br/noticias/id/1320/james-freitas-assume-comando-da-equipe-júnior|title=James Freitas assume comando da equipe júnior|trans-title=James Freitas takes over the under-20s|publisher=EC Juventude|language=pt-BR|date=2 March 2009|access-date=27 February 2020}} being in charge of the under-17s and under-20s while also acting as an interim first team manager for one Série B match.{{cite web|url=http://www.juventude.com.br/noticias/id/1600/james-freitas-comanda-interinamente-o-time-diante-do-campinense|title=James Freitas comanda interinamente o time diante do Campinense|trans-title=James Freitas takes over the team in an interim manner against Campinense|publisher=EC Juventude|language=pt-BR|date=6 July 2009|access-date=27 February 2020}}

For the 2010 season, Freitas returned to Internacional, being named in charge of the under-20 team.{{cite web|url=http://www.internacional.com.br/conteudo?modulo=2&setor=18&codigo=10887|title=Juniores dão início à temporada 2010|trans-title=Under-20s start the 2010 season|publisher=SC Internacional|language=pt-BR|date=24 March 2010|access-date=27 February 2020}} In April of the following year, he was appointed Lisca's assistant at Luverdense.{{cite web|url=http://www.nacaradogol.com.br/lernoticia.php?cod=1782|title=Ex-treinador dos juniores da dupla Gre-Nal será auxiliar do Lisca|trans-title=Former manager of the youth teams of Gre-Nal duo will be Lisca's assistant|publisher=Na Cara do Gol|language=pt-BR|date=29 April 2011|access-date=25 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525071019/http://www.nacaradogol.com.br/lernoticia.php?cod=1782|archive-date=25 May 2015}}

In August 2011, Freitas moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Paraguayan side Club Guaraní as Beto Almeida's assistant;{{cite web|url=https://www.sonoticias.com.br/esportes/auxiliar-tecnico-e-preparador-fisico-deixam-luverdense/|title=Auxiliar técnico e preparador físico deixam Luverdense|trans-title=Assistant manager and fitness coach leave Luverdense|publisher=Só Notícias|language=pt-BR|date=23 August 2011|access-date=27 February 2020}} in late November, as Almeida was sacked, he took over the side in an interim manner.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimahora.com/james-freitas-asumio-la-conduccion-guarani-n484779.html|title=James Freitas asumió la conducción de Guaraní|trans-title=James Freitas took over Guaraní|publisher=Última Hora|language=es|date=29 November 2011|access-date=25 May 2015}} He then returned to Juventude the following February, being again named in charge of the under-20s{{cite web|url=http://www.juventude.com.br/noticias/id/3203/james-freitas-%C3%A9-o-t%C3%A9cnico-sub20|title=James Freitas é o técnico Sub20|trans-title=James Freitas is the under-20 manager|publisher=EC Juventude|language=pt-BR|date=16 February 2012|access-date=25 May 2015}} while also taking over the B-team.{{cite web|url=http://www.juventude.com.br/noticias/id/3240/atacante-e-novo-auxiliar-t%C3%A9cnico-s%C3%A3o-apresentados|title=Atacante e novo Auxiliar Técnico são apresentados|trans-title=Forward and new assistant manager are presented|publisher=EC Juventude|language=pt-BR|date=22 August 2012|access-date=27 February 2020}}

Freitas then returned to Grêmio in 2013, being manager of the under-20s; in May 2015, he was named interim manager of the first team, as Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2015/05/gremio-anuncia-saida-de-felipao.html|title=Grêmio anuncia a saída de Felipão|trans-title=Grêmio announce the departure of Felipão|publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt-BR|date=19 May 2015|access-date=27 February 2020}} He was in charge for two matches before the appointment of Roger Machado, and was later promoted to the role of permanent assistant manager of the first team.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2015/05/james-vira-auxiliar-fixo-e-pode-ate-ser-efetivado-romildo-seguira-como-vice.html|title=James Freitas deve ser auxiliar fixo do Grêmio; Romildo seguirá como vice|trans-title=James Freitas may be Grêmio's fixed assistant manager; Romildo will remain as vice-president|publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt-BR|date=26 May 2015|access-date=27 February 2020}} In 2016, as Roger was dismissed, he was again interim for a further three matches.

On 21 December 2016, Freitas was announced as Mano Menezes' assistant at Cruzeiro.{{cite web|url=http://esportes.estadao.com.br/noticias/futebol,cruzeiro-anuncia-novo-auxiliar-tecnico-james-freitas,10000095977|title=Cruzeiro anuncia novo auxiliar-técnico James Freitas|trans-title=Cruzeiro announce new assistant manager James Freitas|publisher=O Estado de S. Paulo|language=pt-BR|date=21 December 2016|access-date=28 November 2017}} The following November, he moved to Palmeiras under the same role,{{cite web|url=https://www.mg.superesportes.com.br/app/noticias/futebol/cruzeiro/2017/11/27/noticia_cruzeiro,444059/auxiliar-deixa-cruzeiro-para-trabalhar-no-palmeiras.shtml|title=Palmeiras contrata mais um do Cruzeiro: auxiliar aceita convite de Roger Machado|trans-title=Palmeiras sign another one from Cruzeiro: assistant accepts invitation from Roger Machado|publisher=Superesportes|language=pt-BR|date=27 November 2017|access-date=28 November 2017}} but returned to Cruzeiro on 15 February 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.cruzeiro.com.br/noticia/show/15432/campeao-da-copa-do-brasil-2017-auxiliar-tecnico-james-freitas-esta-de-volta-ao-cruzeiro|title=Campeão da Copa do Brasil 2017, auxiliar técnico James Freitas está de volta ao Cruzeiro|trans-title=Champion of the 2017 Copa do Brasil, assistant manager James Freitas is back at Cruzeiro|publisher=Cruzeiro EC|language=pt-BR|date=15 February 2019|access-date=27 February 2020}}

In September 2019, Freitas moved to Cruzeiro's rivals Atlético Mineiro as an assistant manager and coordinator of a "transition team".{{cite web|url=https://globoesporte.globo.com/mg/futebol/noticia/atletico-mg-contrata-ex-auxiliar-do-cruzeiro-para-coordenar-equipe-de-transicao.ghtml|title=Atlético-MG contrata ex-auxiliar do Cruzeiro para coordenar "equipe de transição"|trans-title=Atlético-MG sign former Cruzeiro assistant to coordinate "transition team"|publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt-BR|date=11 September 2019|access-date=27 February 2020}} The following 27 February, he was named interim manager of the first team, after the dismissal of Rafael Dudamel.{{cite web|url=https://www.mg.superesportes.com.br/app/noticias/futebol/atletico-mg/2020/02/27/noticia_atletico_mg,3837729/atletico-sera-comandado-por-auxiliar-mais-uma-vez.shtml|title=Atlético será comandado por auxiliar pela terceira vez na gestão Sette Câmara|trans-title=Atlético will be run by an assistant for the third time in Sette Câmara's tenure|publisher=SuperEsportes|language=pt-BR|date=27 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020}}

Returning to his previous role after the appointment of Jorge Sampaoli, Freitas was dismissed by Galo in March 2020.{{cite web|url=https://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/atletico-mg/noticia/atletico-mg-faz-reestruturacao-da-comissao-james-freitas-e-chiquinho-sao-demitidos.ghtml|title=Atlético-MG faz "reestruturação" da comissão, James Freitas e Chiquinho são demitidos|trans-title=Atlético-MG "rebuild" the staff, James Freitas and Chiquinho are fired|publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt-BR|date=17 March 2020|access-date=18 July 2020}} He was subsequently an assistant of Roger Machado at Bahia and Fluminense before being named manager of Athletico Paranaense's under-23 team on 27 November 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.athletico.com.br/noticia/james-freitas-e-o-novo-treinador-da-equipe-de-aspirantes-do-rubro-negro/|title=James Freitas é o novo treinador da equipe de Aspirantes do Rubro-Negro|trans-title=James Freitas is the new manager of the Aspirantes team of the red-and-black|publisher=Club Athletico Paranaense|language=pt-BR|date=27 November 2021|accessdate=16 December 2021}}

On 8 February 2022, Freitas was dismissed after a poor start of the Campeonato Paranaense.{{cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/pr/futebol/times/athletico-pr/noticia/james-freitas-e-demitido-do-athletico-apos-inicio-ruim-no-campeonato-paranaense.ghtml|title=James Freitas é demitido do Athletico após início ruim no Campeonato Paranaense|trans-title=James Freitas is sacked from Athletico after poor start in the Campeonato Paranaense|publisher=ge|language=pt-BR|date=8 February 2022|accessdate=8 February 2022}} He returned to Grêmio shortly after, as an assistant, and subsequently worked in the same role at Cerro Porteño, Coritiba and back at Grêmio.