Bap ‘to seek’ Boto replacement as Flamengo plan further football changes | OneFootball

Flamengo’s crisis will not end with the sacking of head coach Filipe Luís. President Bap has decided to reshape the football department and has begun searching for a replacement for director José Boto.

Among those contacted are former centre-back Fábio Luciano, who ended his playing career at Flamengo in 2009 and now works as a pundit. Edu Gaspar, who is leaving Nottingham Forest, has also been discussed, though he has not been approached. ESPN first reported the development.

No appointment has advanced yet, as Bap weighs whether to install a single decision-maker, mirroring Boto’s remit, or to split duties between an executive with market expertise and a dressing-room figure to manage the squad. Boto will remain only until his successor or successors are hired.

Boto’s handling of Filipe Luís’s dismissal landed badly internally. In a dressing-room exchange of under a minute at the Maracanã after the rout of Madureira, he told players the sacking was a presidential order he did not support, which displeased Bap. Three days later, at Leonardo Jardim’s unveiling, he took responsibility, saying he had outlined reasons and viewed Jardim as the solution.

In a meeting with the squad on Tuesday, he labelled the players irresponsible, which was poorly received.

Tensions date back to 2025, from leaked messages about a potential €15 million sale of Pedro to a near deal for Mikey Johnston that Bap vetoed. Boto had pushed to renew with Filipe Luís when Bap was ready to pivot, and Jardim was identified in December.

After the holidays, Flamengo planned to field the under-20s at the start of the Campeonato Carioca so the first team could rest and prepare. With one point from three games, Bap ordered the professionals back early, and a leak pinning the call on him angered the president, who considered changing both coach and director.

Since arriving in January 2025, Boto has not sought popularity with the squad, and staff have criticised his work. He pledged to rebuild scouting and reshape market strategy, but big-money signings suggested otherwise to those on the ground. Bap had been among the few shielding him, and he is now highly vulnerable.

Source: Globo.com