Odair Hellmann

Odair Hellmann (born 22 January 1977) is a Brazilian football coach and former player who played as a defensive midfielder who is currently in charge of Saudi Pro League club Al-Raed.

Playing career
Born in Salete, Santa Catarina, Odair was an Internacional youth graduate. He made his first team debut on 8 March 1997, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 Campeonato Gaúcho away draw against Grêmio Santanense. After winning the 1998 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior with the under-20 side, he was definitely promoted to the main squad, and featured more during that year.

Odair was loaned to Fluminense in the Série C for the 1999 season. Upon returning, he was released by the club, and played for Veranópolis in the 2001 Campeonato Gaúcho. He was also a part of the América de Natal squad in the 2001 Série B, but never featured in a single minute.

In 2002, Odair joined Mamoré as the club was playing in the Copa Sul-Minas, and made his debut against former club Internacional. He started the 2003 campaign at Brasil de Pelotas before moving abroad with Swedish Allsvenskan side Enköpings SK in July; he suffered an injury while training, staying two months sidelined at the latter and subsequently only playing rarely.

Odair returned to Brazil in 2004, after agreeing to a contract with America-RJ. He moved to Remo in the following year, and helped the side to win the third division. After losing his starting spot in 2006, he was also an interim coach for a brief period after Artur Neto was sacked, managing the club in one match before returning to his player status.

After a brief period at CRB (where he struggled with injuries), Odair represented Hong Kong First Division League club Eastern SC in the 2007–08 season. He returned to Brasil de Pelotas in December 2008, and was among the squad which suffered an accident after the team bus plunged 130 ft into a ravine in the following January. He suffered minor back injuries from the accident, which he fully recovered in October of that year, but still opted to retire.

Internacional
After retiring, Hellmann started working as an assistant manager at his former club Internacional, initially assigned to the under-17 squad. In 2013, he became the permanent assistant manager of the first team. In 2015, he was also in charge of the first team for two matches, replacing fired Diego Aguirre.

Ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Hellmann worked as Rogério Micale's assistant in the Brazil under-23 squad, helping the side to achieve the gold medal for the first time in history. Upon returning to Inter, he was appointed interim manager on 11 November 2017, after the dismissal of Guto Ferreira; he also previously worked in that capacity for one match in May, after the dismissal of Antônio Carlos Zago.

On 25 November 2017, Hellmann was announced as manager of the club for the 2018 season. After qualifying for the 2019 Copa Libertadores, he remained as manager for the 2019 season, as they went on to reach the finals in the 2019 Copa do Brasil, but lost it to Athletico Paranaense.

On 10 October 2019, after being knocked out by Flamengo in the Libertadores quarterfinals and a streak of four games without a league win, Hellmann was dismissed by Internacional.

Fluminense
On 11 December 2019, Hellmann was appointed manager of another of his former clubs, Fluminense. He reached the 2020 Campeonato Carioca finals, but lost to Flamengo.

On 7 December 2020, Hellmann left Fluminense after receiving an offer from Emirati club Al-Wasl, and was replaced by assistant Marcão.

Al-Wasl
Hellmann was confirmed as manager of Al-Wasl on 8 December 2020. He rescinded his contract with the club on 27 June 2022, after finishing in the sixth position in the 2021–22 UAE Pro League.

Santos
On 16 November 2022, Hellmann was named manager of Santos back in his home country, and signed a one-year contract. He left on a mutual agreement on 22 June 2023, after a 2–0 home loss to Corinthians.

Al-Riyadh
On 8 October 2023, Hellmann was appointed as manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Riyadh until the end of the 2023–24 season.

Al-Raed
On 14 July 2024, Hellmann was appointed as manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Raed.

Player
Internacional
 * Campeonato Gaúcho: 1997

Fluminense
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série C: 1999

Remo
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série C: 2005

Assistant manager

 * Brazil Olympic
 * Summer Olympics Gold medal: 2016