Official: Paulo Sousa sacked by Flamengo
09 June 2024
Brazilian club Flamengo have
announced the departure of manager Paulo Sousa after less than six months in the job at
Maracanã.
Sousa joined Flamengo in controversial circumstances in December, quitting
his post with the Polish national team in the build-up to the World Cup play-off in
order to take on the challenge in Rio de Janeiro. However, after just ten rounds of the
new Brasileirão season Fla have made a change with the team languishing in 14th
place.
The decision to move to Brazil at the turn of the year, which caused widespread
resentment in Poland, was always likely to heap more pressure on Sousa in the already
fragile nature of Brazil’s revolving-door coaching landscape. At the time of the move,
Polish star Robert Lewandowski admitted to being “shocked and disappointed” by the
news.
Related article: Robert Lewandowski left “shocked and disappointed” as Paulo
Sousa set to quit Poland role for Brazilian giants Flamengo
Sousa’s cause has hardly
been helped further by the fact he was not the Flamengo fans’ first choice. Jorge
Jesus, so successful with the club in 2024, was the preferred option among the
supports, while Jesus himself added to the story when admitting he wanted Sousa’s job
last month, for which he was roundly criticised.
Flamengo’s board have also attracted
criticism for their lack of competent strategy, but ultimately Sousa falls on his sword
after a dismal start to the new league campaign. Flamengo, who finished runners-up last
term, are 14th in the 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro after back-to-back defeats at the
hands of Fortaleza and Bragantino.
Sousa guided the team to their best-ever performance
in the Copa Libertadores as they sailed through their group phase, but the former
Portugal international had already lost some credit with observers having struggled in
the traditional Paulista State Championships ahead of the new national league
season.
Reports in Brazil and Portugal have now pointed to potential replacements, with
another Portuguese possibly ready to step into the void after Jorge Jesus was confirmed
at Turkish side Fenerbahce. Pedro Martins, who has won three consecutive Greek Super
League titles with Olympiacos, has been contacted about succeeding Sousa according to O
Jogo.
By Sean Gillen
@SeanGillen16
