Rafael Paiva

Cledson Rafael de Paiva (born 26 August 1984) is a Brazilian football coach, currently the interim head coach of Vasco da Gama.

Career
Born in Cambuí, Minas Gerais, Paiva began his career as a fitness coach at Guarani before becoming an under-15 coach at Mogi Mirim in 2013. He subsequently worked under the same role at Desportivo Brasil and São Paulo, before being named in charge of the latter's under-17 team in March 2018.

On 2 November 2021, after a period in China, Paiva was named under-17 coach of Vasco da Gama. He left the club on 11 January of the following year, and was announced at Palmeiras the following day, as an under-15 coach.

In March 2022, Paiva was promoted to Palmeiras' under-17 side, and led the side to two consecutive Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-17 and Copa do Brasil Sub-17 titles. On 23 January 2024, he returned to Vasco after being named in charge of the under-20 squad.

On 27 April 2024, Paiva was named interim head coach of Vasco, after the departure of Ramón Díaz. He led the club in four matches (which included a qualification in the 2024 Copa do Brasil) before returning to his previous role after the appointment of Álvaro Pacheco on 21 May; on 20 June, however, he returned to an interim role, after Pacheco was sacked.

Honours
São Paulo U17
 * Campeonato Paulista Sub-17: 2019

Palmeiras U17
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-17: 2022, 2023
 * Campeonato Paulista Sub-17: 2022
 * Copa do Brasil Sub-17: 2022, 2023