Leonardo Jardim arrives in Rio to sign Flamengo contract | OneFootball

Leonardo Jardim arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday night to finalise paperwork and sign for Flamengo, who dismissed Filipe Luís after an 8-0 semi-final win over Madureira in the Campeonato Carioca following a poor start to the season.

According to Globo.com, the deal was agreed before that game. He went from Galeão to a hotel for talks and will sign on Wednesday on a contract to the end of 2027. The plan is for him to be at Ninho do Urubu for training.

Jardim is expected to make his debut in the Campeonato Carioca final against Fluminense on Sunday. Filipe learned of the decision after his post-match news conference at Maracanã and visited the training ground earlier to say goodbye.

He had been out since leaving Cruzeiro in December for personal reasons, saying he would pause to protect his physical and mental health. His contract there ran to the end of 2026, but he triggered a clause to depart.

With Cruzeiro, he reached the Copa do Brasil semi-finals and finished third in the Brasileirão, earning direct entry to the 2026 Libertadores group stage. His record there was 55 matches, 26 wins, 18 draws and 11 defeats.

Jardim had been among president Bap’s preferred candidates since late last year. Flamengo contacted him when Filipe Luís’s renewal talks became complicated, though the parties later reached an agreement. The 51-year-old began in Portuguese football and impressed at Monaco between 2014 and 2020, later coaching in the Middle East.

Source: Globo.com