Flamengo announced on Wednesday the hiring of Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim, who replaces Filipe Luís, dismissed despite recent titles. The new manager, who led Cruzeiro in 2025, signed until December 2027 and will debut in the classic against Fluminense for the Carioca. The move reflects Flamengo's rocky start to the 2026 season.
Flamengo announced on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the hiring of Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim to replace Filipe Luís. Jardim's contract runs until December 2027. This marks the Portuguese manager's return to Brazilian football since leading Cruzeiro in 2025, when he left in December for personal reasons. At the time, he stated: "In Brazil, I'll only coach Cruzeiro. That's the real news. I won't coach another club in Brazil".
Jardim's first challenge will be the classic against Fluminense on Sunday, March 8, at Maracanã, for the Campeonato Carioca final. Flamengo's board made the change despite an 8-0 thrashing of Madureira in the Carioca semifinals on Monday, March 2. However, the team's poor season start influenced the decision: runners-up in the Supercopa do Brasil, losing to Corinthians, and in the Recopa Sul-Americana, beaten by Argentina's Lanús. In the Campeonato Brasileiro, Flamengo has one loss to São Paulo, one draw with Internacional, and one win over Vitória.
Filipe Luís took over in September 2024 and managed Flamengo in 101 matches, with 63 wins, 23 draws, and 15 losses, achieving about 70% win rate. Under him, the club won the Copa do Brasil in 2024, plus the Supercopa do Brasil, Carioca, Copa Libertadores, and Campeonato Brasileiro in 2025. The dismissal was also reportedly due to conflicts in the coaching staff with players like forward Pedro, who has seen limited action lately.
Columnist Marcelo Bechler criticized the move as absurd and a disservice to Brazilian football, pointing to the lack of patience for adjustments at the season's start, especially after Filipe Luís's recent titles, including the Brasileirão and Libertadores in December 2025 and a strong showing in the Mundial final against PSG.
