Flamengo fires Renato Portaluppi after setback in Libertadores final
The passage of Renato Portaluppi in charge of Flamengo came to an end this Monday (29). In the early afternoon, the club announced the departure of the coach "after a conversation between the parties" and that assistant Maurício Souza will be responsible for the professional team until the end of the Brazilian Championship.
Renato leaves Rubro-Negro after 38 games, with 25 wins, eight draws and five defeats. Despite a 72.8% success, the coach did not lift cups for the Rio team, which has only mathematical chances of winning the Brazilian Championship, was eliminated in the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil for Athletico-PR and lost the Libertadores decision to Palmeiras, last Saturday (27).
Renato's first moments at Flamengo were marked by routs and historic sequences. The victories in the first seven games made him reach the best start of a job at Rubro-Negro in 84 years. The success of almost 90%, achieved after defeating Grêmio 2-0, in the return game of the confrontation for the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil, isolated him as coach with the most promising start at the club.
The drop in performance, however, undermined the confidence of the fans, who booed Renato in the 3-0 loss to Athletico-PR, which cost him his place in the final of the Copa do Brasil, and sang the name of Jorge Jesus, currently at Benfica (Portugal). In press conferences, the coach was charged for the declaration given in 2019, when he was still managing Grêmio, that Flamengo had an obligation to be champion "because of an investment of R$ 200 million".
Without Renato and with Maurício Souza in charge, Rubro-Negro will return to the field this Tuesday (30), at 20:00 (GMT), at Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro, against Ceará, for the 36th round of the Brazilian Nationals. The game will be broadcast live on Rádio Nacional . Cariocas have to win to keep the remote chance of reaching the three-time national championship. In case of a tie or defeat, Atlético-MG guarantees the title in advance.
Text translated using artificial intelligence.
