Ramon Menezes

Ramon Menezes Hubner (born 30 June 1972), simply known as Ramon, is a Brazilian professional football manager and former player who played as an attacking midfielder. He is the current manager of the Brazil under-20 national team, and the interim manager of the Brazil national team.

An attacking midfielder who could also play as a forward, Ramon spent the most of his career playing for clubs in the Série A, where he amassed more than 350 matches and scored 98 goals. Mainly linked to Cruzeiro, Vasco da Gama and Vitória, he also played abroad for Bayer Leverkusen, Tokyo Verdy and Al-Gharafa before retiring with Cabofriense in 2013.

Club
Ramon was born in Contagem, Minas Gerais, and finished his formation with Cruzeiro. He made his first team debut on 18 October 1987, starting in a 0–0 Copa União away draw against Flamengo.

Ramon scored his first senior goal on 17 March 1988, netting Cruzeiro's third in a 3–0 home win over Rio Branco de Andradas, for the year's Campeonato Mineiro. He was regularly used during the 1990 season, but later fell down the pecking order.

Ramon spent two periods on loan at Bahia (two months in 1992 and in 1993), but also featured sparingly. He moved to state rivals Vitória in the following year, becoming an immediate starter and scoring a career-best 25 goals in the 1995 Campeonato Baiano.

After impressing for Vitória, Ramon moved abroad and joined Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen. He returned to his home country in 1996, signing for Vasco da Gama, and was an important unit in the club's winning run, as he lifted the 1997 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the 1998 Campeonato Carioca, the 1998 Copa Libertadores and the 1999 Torneio Rio – São Paulo.

In 2000, Ramon moved to Atlético Mineiro and scored the goal of the title of the year's Campeonato Mineiro. He subsequently agreed to a loan deal with Fluminense in the following year, being notably recognised by his free kick goals.

Ramon then returned to Atlético before rejoining Vasco in 2002, where he scored 15 goals in 17 league appearances to help the side avoid relegation. On 3 January 2003, he left the latter club and joined Tokyo Verdy on an 11-month contract.

Ramon returned to Flu in 2004, but struggled with injuries, and subsequently moved to Botafogo on a one-year deal. He rejoined Vasco for a third spell in January 2006, and a move to Qatar Stars League side Al-Gharafa SC subsequently followed.

Ramon signed for Atlético Paranaense on 9 January 2007, but featured sparingly. On 25 February of the following year, he returned to Vitória, but left the club in the end of the season to play in Turkish football; after playing just friendlies, he rejoined Vitória in March 2009. He left the club in December 2010, after suffering relegation.

On 3 January 2011, 38-year-old Ramon agreed to a contract with Joinville, being a regular starter during the season as his side achieved promotion from the Série C. However, in the following campaign, he only appeared rarely, which prompted to a move to Caxias in October 2012.

On 15 February 2013, at the age of 40, Ramon was presented at Cabofriense. After playing in the Campeonato Carioca Série B, he retired.

International
Called up to the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup by manager Émerson Leão, Ramon made his full international debut for Brazil on 31 May of that year, starting and assisting Carlos Miguel in a 2–0 win against Cameroon. He scored his first goal on 7 June, netting his side's only in a 2–1 defeat to France.

Managerial career
Shortly after retiring, Ramon started working at his former club Joinville as an assistant manager. He left the club in January 2015, and was named in charge of ASEEV in August; at the latter club, he won the third division of the Campeonato Goiano.

In 2016, Ramon coached Anápolis, after agreeing to a deal with the club in July of the previous year. He was sacked in February, after just five matches, and subsequently managed Guarani-MG before returning to JEC in September, now being appointed manager. He left the club on 28 November, after failing to avoid relegation.

In May 2017, Ramon returned to Anápolis for the Série D, replacing Waldemar Lemos. He was dismissed in the following month, after four winless matches.

On 23 November 2017, Ramon was appointed manager of Tombense for the ensuing campaign. He was relieved from his duties the following 16 July, after six winless matches.

On 27 December 2018, Ramon rejoined another club he represented as a player, Vasco, as an assistant manager. On 30 March 2020, he replaced sacked Abel Braga at the helm of the main squad.

Ramon was himself dismissed on 8 October 2020, after six winless matches. On 9 November, he replaced departing Marcelo Cabo at the helm of CRB, but was sacked after just nine matches on 18 December.

On 8 June 2021, Ramon was named manager of another club he represented as a player, Vitória. He was sacked on 5 August, after only three wins in 16 matches.

On 7 March 2022, Ramon was named in charge of the Brazil under-20 national team. He won the 2023 South American U-20 Championship with the side, and was named interim manager of the full side on 15 February 2023 following Tite's resignation after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

International goals

 * Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first.

Player
Cruzeiro
 * Campeonato Mineiro: 1990
 * Supercopa Libertadores: 1991, 1992
 * Copa do Brasil: 1993

Vitória
 * Campeonato Baiano: 1995, 2008, 2009, 2010

Vasco da Gama
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1997
 * Campeonato Carioca: 1998
 * Copa Libertadores: 1998
 * Torneio Rio – São Paulo: 1999

Atlético Minero
 * Campeonato Mineiro: 2000

Joinville
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série C: 2011
 * Copa Santa Catarina: 2011

Individual
 * Bola de Prata: 2002

Manager
ASEEV
 * Campeonato Goiano Terceira Divisão: 2015

Brazil U20
 * South American U-20 Championship: 2023

Brasil U23
 * Pan American Games: 2023