Master trainer has to go
Flamengo has fired coach Filipe Luís. The traditional Brazilian club announced this after the 8-0 win against Madureira in the semi-finals of the state championship in Rio de Janeiro. Filipe Luís had been in office since November 2024 and led one of the most successful teams in the club’s history. Assistant coach Iván Palanco and fitness trainer Diogo Linhares also have to go.
Under Filipe Luís, Flamengo won, among other things, the Brazilian championship and the Copa Libertadores. Nevertheless, the mood in the club deteriorated this year for several reasons. On the one hand, the negotiations to extend Filipe Luís’ contract at the end of 2025 took a long time. On the other hand, the team had its worst start to the season in ten years, losing both the Brazilian Super Cup final and the Recopa Sudamericana.
Filipe Luís’ rise was rapid. Several European stars moved to Flamengo under the former Atlético Madrid defender, with Lucas Paquetá most recently returning. According to media reports, the mood within the team has been tense recently. In addition to the poor results, there were also misunderstandings regarding Filipe Luís’ decisions. Ex-Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim is already being considered as his successor. The Portuguese most recently coached Cruzeiro.
