José Boto explains Flamengo’s decision to sack Filipe Luís after poor start to 2026 | OneFootball

José Boto has defended Flamengo’s decision to sack Filipe Luís after a turbulent start to 2026, saying: "The results were not good and we had to change something. You cannot swap 25 players, so we change the coach."

"I think Luis will become a top coach and a great manager, but sometimes you have to make these decisions," he told Gazeta.

In 2025, Filipe Luís made history, lifting the Supercopa Rei, the Brasileirão and the Copa Libertadores. Flamengo also beat Chelsea and gave PSG a stern test that year.

Form dipped in 2026. They finished runners-up in the Supercopa do Brasil to Corinthians in Brasília, then lost the Recopa Sudamericana final to Lanús at the Maracanã.

Boto and Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap, dismissed Luís after the Campeonato Carioca semi-final, which Flamengo won 8-0 against Madureira.

Flamengo have appointed the Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim, who was out of work. Under Jardim, they return to the Brasileirão on Saturday 30, facing Coritiba at the Maracanã from 16h Brasília time in the 18th round.

Source: Coluna Do Fla