Flamengo boss Leonardo Jardim hailed among Madeira's most important figures | OneFootball

“It’s not just football.” The phrase, although it may sound like a cliché, simply cannot be avoided when it comes to Leonardo Jardim. After all, what the Flamengo coach represents to his people, from Madeira Island, goes far beyond the four lines of the pitch.

Madeira Island, a territory politically belonging to Portugal, has a population of approximately 250,000 inhabitants. That is why, for them, the sense of belonging and representation is so strong. In this context, Leonardo Jardim was recognized as one of the 50 most important figures in the history of Madeira Island.

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Although he was born in Venezuela, Jardim’s academic and professional journey began on Madeira Island. It was there that he earned his degree in Physical Education at the University of Madeira, and later joined the coaching staff of AD Camacha.

From that point on, Leonardo Jardim reached greater heights and made a name for himself around the world: Olympiacos (GRE), Monaco (FRA), Al Hilal (SAU), and Cruzeiro were some of the coach’s main jobs before arriving at Flamengo.

On his résumé, Leonardo Jardim proudly boasts titles such as the AFC Champions League, the French Championship, and the Saudi Championship. However, beyond the trophies, Jardim has also been an important figure in the careers of world-renowned stars such as Mbappé, Bernardo Silva, and Berbatov.

What are Leonardo Jardim’s goals at Flamengo?

Under contract until the end of 2027, Leonardo Jardim has the trust of Bap (president) and José Boto (football director). Therefore, the main goals are for the coach to lead Flamengo to Libertadores and/or Brasileirão titles still this season.

It is also worth pointing out that Jardim has a curious fact at Flamengo: the coach won a title in his very first match. That is because he took charge of Rubro-Negro in the Campeonato Carioca final against Fluminense. However, after getting the better of the tricolor rival, Leonardo Jardim stressed that his ambitions were even bigger:

That is why, with this résumé and determination, Leonardo Jardim’s presence at the head of Flamengo creates great expectations among the Nação Rubro-Negra, who hope for an attacking, dominant team capable of winning titles.

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