Leonardo Jardim had previously stated that he would never coach another Brazilian side in August 2025, while in charge of Cruzeiro.
In December 2025, he left the Belo Horizonte-based club, and just a few months later, Jardim now finds himself not only back in Brazil but in charge of one of the biggest clubs in the country.
The Portuguese manager has taken over the Flamengo job following the well-documented shock sacking of Filipe Luis, who was dismissed shortly after their emphatic 8-0 victory over Madureira in the Campeonato Carioca.
While the result itself seemed an unlikely moment for such a decision, reports have since emerged suggesting there were tensions behind the scenes. It has been claimed that Filipe Luis had been in discussions with Ligue 1 side Strasbourg regarding their managerial vacancy, something the Flamengo board were reportedly unhappy with.
Those developments ultimately appear to have accelerated the decision, bringing an abrupt end to Luis’ spell in charge and opening the door for Jardim to step in.
What does Jardim bring compared to Luis?
First of all, Jardim arrives with a European pedigree. He famously guided AS Monaco to a Ligue 1 title and played a key role in developing a young side that included Kylian Mbappe during their remarkable run in France. More recently, he led Cruzeiro to a third-place finish last season.
That achievement, however, could be viewed in different ways.
On one hand, finishing third was a solid return. On the other hand, Cruzeiro’s main focus had largely shifted toward domestic competition after their early exit in the Copa Sudamericana group stages, meaning their schedule was less demanding than some of their rivals.
Tactically, his approach is quite different from what Flamengo fans became used to under Luis.
Jardim’s Cruzeiro side was far more pragmatic and defensively structured. That may partly reflect the tools he had available, but it also reflects his natural coaching philosophy.
By contrast, Luis built his reputation on front-foot, attacking football, especially in the early stages of his Flamengo tenure when the team played with a high tempo and aggressive pressing.
The statistical differences highlight that contrast.
Last season, Flamengo averaged 62.2% possession in their matches, dominating the ball in most games. Cruzeiro, under Jardim, averaged 47.6% possession, showing a more balanced or reactive approach.
There was also a noticeable difference in disciplinary numbers. Cruzeiro picked up 103 yellow cards and five red cards, compared to Flamengo’s 78 yellow cards and five red cards. That can often reflect a more tactical style of play, using fouls to break up transitions, disrupt counter-attacks and control the rhythm of the match.
If Flamengo are to remain fluid and attacking while competing at the highest level, those small details often become necessary. Tactical fouls, managing transitions and disrupting opponents are all part of modern football.
The question now is whether Flamengo’s players and fans will embrace Jardim’s more structured, pragmatic approach, or whether they will expect the same attacking identity that defined the early months under Luis.
Luis, as time went on, gradually progressed into a more possession-based, slow build-up style of play. Flamengo would often control matches through the ball, circulating possession and trying to break sides down patiently, especially against teams who would sit deep against them.
Jardim’s Cruzeiro often looked to move the ball forward quickly once possession was won, relying on rapid counter-attacks and direct wing play to create chances.
Rather than long spells of possession, Cruzeiro were more comfortable attacking space quickly, especially through the wide areas. That directness allowed them to transition quickly from defence into attack.
If Jardim implements something similar at Flamengo, it could represent a noticeable shift in style.
The early tests
In modern-day football, managers are given very little time to implement their style, and they almost have to hit the ground running.
That will certainly be the case for Jardim at Flamengo if he is going to be successful. He begins his tenure with a very tricky task as they take on Fluminense in the final of the Campeonato Carioca.
A Rio derby is always intense, but to begin your time at the club with one of the biggest fixtures in Brazilian football makes the challenge even greater.
The Rubro Negro have already suffered defeats in both the Supercopa do Brasil final and the Recopa Sudamericana final this year, meaning they will be desperate to avoid making it three straight final losses when they take on Flu.
After that, the challenges do not get any easier.
Jardim’s first league fixture of the new campaign sees them, ironically, take on his former club Cruzeiro at the Maracana.
That will then be followed by another difficult Rio derby against Botafogo.
It promises to be a fascinating start to Jardim’s tenure, and one that he will have to approach with caution. Managing Flamengo always comes with enormous pressure, and stepping into a club with one of the biggest fanbases in the world means results will be expected immediately.