RIO DE JANEIRO — Flamengo, the reigning champion of Brazil and South America, appointed Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim on Wednesday, surprising fans with the abrupt dismissal of Filipe Luís just a day prior.
The 51-year-old former AS Monaco manager has signed a contract that will keep him at the club until the end of 2027, according to the announcement from the Rio de Janeiro team.
Luís was let go mere hours after Flamengo triumphed over the small club Madureira with a staggering 8-0 scoreline in a semifinal match of the Rio state league. This year, his team faced disappointing losses, including the Brazilian Supercup to local rivals Corinthians and the South American Recopa to Lanus of Argentina, which ignited frustration among supporters.
Many fans, analysts, and former Flamengo players voiced their support for Luís following his dismissal and expressed shock at club chairman Luiz Eduardo Baptista’s decision.
Just two months earlier, Luís had renewed his contract with Flamengo until 2027. During his tenure, he managed the team in 101 matches, achieving 63 wins, 23 draws, and 15 losses, with five of those defeats occurring this year alone.
Jardim previously coached Cruzeiro, leading them to a third-place finish in the Brazilian league in the last season before leaving the club after his contract expired in December, vowing not to manage another Brazilian team.
Flamengo’s executives are optimistic about the upcoming season, especially after the recent acquisition of midfielder Lucas Paquetá for a reported fee of €35 million ($40.5 million).