Fired after an 8-0 victory? The intriguing story of Filipe Luís and Flamengo
A BRUTAL END TO A BRILLIANT CAREER
In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, Filipe Luís, a veteran defender for Flamengo, described his employers as "probably the most demanding club on earth." However, on a Tuesday morning, he removed the "probably." Filipe Luís, now a highly successful manager at Flamengo, had just watched his team win 8-0 against Madureira, securing another Campeonato Carioca final. Despite his remarkable achievements, including winning seven different competitions in 18 months, he was abruptly dismissed. "Clube de Regatas do Flamengo informs that Filipe Luís will no longer be in charge of the professional team," stated an official release, marking the end of his tenure. "Flamengo thanks former player and coach Filipe Luís for everything that was achieved and shared during this journey. The club wishes him success and the best of luck in the continuation of his professional career."
While it's not uncommon for managers to be let go after significant victories, such as San Marino's 1-7 loss to England in 1993 or Football Daily's 17-0 FA Cup win, this case feels particularly harsh. Just a few months prior, Filipe Luís, aged 40 and considered one of the world's top young managers, was on the shortlist to replace Enzo Maresca at Chelsea. In November, Flamengo claimed the Copa Libertadores title, and in December, they secured the Brazilian championship and reached the Intercontinental Cup final, the closest a South American team has come to winning it since 2012.
Filipe Luís set the bar high, and minor setbacks were met with disappointment. In February, Flamengo lost the Supercopa do Brasil and Recopa Sudamericana, along with their first league games and three Campeonato Carioca matches. However, they remained competitive in these competitions and dominated Madureira with an 11-0 aggregate score in the Carioca semi-finals. On Sunday, they faced their rivals Fluminense in the final, with victory offering Filipe Luís his eighth trophy in 101 games as Flamengo manager. As many have pointed out, it's akin to an English club sacking a manager who won the Premier League and FA Cup but lost the Community Shield and Super Cup early in the following season, with the manager gone by August.
Football Daily, having not watched every minute of Flamengo's recent games, cannot speculate on the reasons for Filipe Luís's dismissal. Some suggest that the world has lost its mind, pointing to the eccentric Flamengo president, Luiz Eduardo Baptista, aka "Bap." Others argue that Filipe Luís's success masked underlying issues: a predictable playing style, over-reliance on set pieces, neglect of the youth system, and a refusal to adopt a three-letter nickname. Football Daily is certain of one thing: if results under Filipe Luís's successor take a turn for the worse, Bap will discover the true demands of Flamengo.
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