Bernardo Franco Júnior (born 26 April 1986) is a Brazilian football coach, currently the head coach of Barra-SC.
Born in Curitiba, Paraná, Franco began his career with Atlético Paranaense's under-15 team in 2018. In the following year, he took over the under-17s and won the 2019 Campeonato Paranaense Sub-17.
Franco was promoted to Athletico's first team in 2020, as an assistant coach. On 4 March 2022, he was announced as head coach of Atlético Mineiro's under-20 team, but left in June to join António Oliveira's staff at Cuiabá, as his assistant; he was also an interim head coach in a 1âÂÂ0 Série A home win over Corinthians on 7 June, as Oliveira was not registered in time.
In the following years, Franco followed Oliveira to Coritiba, back to Cuiabá and Corinthians, always as his assistant. On 28 August 2024, he returned to the Dourado after being named head coach of the side.
Despite suffering relegation from the top tier, Franco was kept in charge for the 2025 season, but was dismissed on 20 February of that year, after being knocked out of the 2025 Copa do Brasil. On 10 July, he was named head coach of Brusque in the Série C.
On 20 October 2025, after missing out promotion in the second stage, Franco took over fellow third division side Botafogo-PB. The following 1 February, after a 4âÂÂ1 loss to Campinense, he was sacked, and took over Barra-SC also in level three on 20 March 2026.
Athletico Paranaense U17