Title-winning Flamengo boss sacked by 2026 Libertadores side | OneFootball

Zé Ricardo is no longer Sporting Cristal (PER) coach

Zé Ricardo’s stint at Sporting Cristal (PER) lasted only two months. After the team’s elimination in the first stage of the Copa Libertadores da América, the former Flamengo coach was dismissed by the Peruvian club. In addition to the below-expected performance in the continental tournament, the results in the domestic league also contributed to the end of the partnership.

Zé Ricardo had a contract until December 2027, but the deal was terminated after 15 matches. In total, the former Flamengo coach won only two matches, drew two, and lost nine. In the Libertadores, Sporting Cristal finished in third place, behind Cerro Porteño (PAR) and Palmeiras.

“Sporting Cristal and coach Zé Ricardo decided, by mutual agreement, to bring his time as head coach of our institution to an end. The club thanks coach Zé Ricardo, his assistant coach Ricardo Colbachini, and fitness coach Fabio Eiras for the work carried out during their time at the institution, as well as for their professionalism, commitment, and human quality,” the club announced.

HOW HAS ZÉ RICARDO’S CAREER GONE, AFTER ALL?

Champion of the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior in 2016, Zé Ricardo was ‘promoted’ to the Flamengo first team and won the 2017 Campeonato Carioca. The Rubro-Negro even challenged for the top spot in the Brasileirão at one point in the competition, but lost steam, and the coach ended up being fired.

Since then, Zé Ricardo has not managed to establish himself at another club. In recent years, the coach has had spells at Vasco, Botafogo, Fortaleza, Internacional, Qatar SC (QAT), Shimizu (JPN), Cruzeiro, Goiás, Criciúma and, in 2026, Sporting Cristal of Peru.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.