SAO PAULO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Hernan Crespo said Monday he gave up the possibility of managing a European club to return to Sao Paulo.
The 49-year-old told reporters he is motivated to take charge of the Brazilian Serie A club for a second time after agreeing to an 18-month contract last week.
"I'm happy to be back and to continue a story that ended too soon," the former Argentina international striker said upon his arrival in Brazil.
"There was a chance that I could go to Europe but when Sao Paulo called, there was only one option."
Crespo, who had an eight-month stint in charge of the club in 2021, replaces compatriot Luis Zubeldia, dismissed after a poor start to the 2025 domestic campaign.
Sao Paulo is 14th in the league table with just two wins from 12 matches. Despite its shaky domestic form, the club topped its group in the Copa Libertadores to reach the last 16, where it will meet Colombia's Atletico Nacional over two legs in August.
Crespo will have more than three weeks to prepare his squad for the first match of his new tenure due to a mid-season break for the FIFA Club World Cup.
"The most important thing is that everyone can do their job calmly," he said. "It makes everything much easier. I'm very confident that we'll be able to work well together."
Crespo, whose playing career included spells with Inter Milan, Chelsea and AC Milan, has been out of work since leaving the manager's post at Al Ain in November. ■
