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
