For several years now, Brazilian clubs have been preying on Portuguese coaches.
Not only are they European, they speak the language and adapt easily, they mostly bring results.
The last three wins at the Copa Libertadores have been of Brazilian teams with Portuguese coaches - twice Palmeiras of Abel Pereira and once Flamengo of Georges Jesus - so when Flamengo parted ways this summer with Brazilian mana Renato Gaucho, it was clear she would devote all her efforts to the inventor New with Portuguese ID.
Flamengo's obsession with this professional - a Portuguese coach - was born in the relatively short period that Jesus stood on its lines.
In a little less than a year between 2019 and 20202 he led her to win five titles, including the prestigious Libertadores and the Brazilians, making her play like she had never played before.
Flamengo won 43 of its 57 games under the Portuguese coach, but then the Corona plague began and he decided to return home to Benfica.
With his tremendous success, Jesus opened the door for Brazil to his countrymen's coaches.
After Pereira came to Palmeiras, Santos signed Jesaldo Pereira and Vasco da Gama tried her luck with Ricardo Se Pinto.
Not everyone has succeeded equally, but those who have succeeded have made their clubs realize that there is a winning formula here.
This is especially true in the case of Flamengo.
If she could, the Mario team would have brought Jesus back.
And it's not that she did not try.
In recent weeks there have been quite a few rumors of talks between the parties, but the esteemed coach has not really been available.
He coached Benfica, promoted them to the last eight of the Champions League and the Brazilian Empire had no choice but to move on.
She reportedly inquired with Carlos Carblayle of Braga, Vitor Pereira who was recently sacked by Fenerbahce, former coach of Roma Paulo Fonseca and also with Pedro Martinez who is successful at Olympiacos and Andre Villas-Boas.
Eventually, they came to Paulo Sousa.
Lewandowski in a Polish uniform.
Remained stunned, Photo: IPI
"Do not trust strangers"
His resume - as a player who has succeeded at the highest levels and as a coach who has gone through quite a few clubs and goals - has managed to convince the Flamengo heads that he is the right man for the job. Meetings that were held increased the interest of the team in the former coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv, and the decision was made that he was the man for the job. But as with Jesus, there was a problem with Sousa: he was not available. The Portuguese has been the coach of the Polish national team for a year, and in March expects the playoff team to advance to the World Cup against Russia and then, if and when, against the winner between Sweden and the Czech Republic. There seems to be no chance of appointing a coach in a situation like this, but that's exactly what happened.
On Wednesday, after long days of rumors and slander, Flamengo announced the appointment of Sousa as her new coach. In a controversial move, the 51-year-old Portuguese decided to leave his post as Poland national team coach immediately and before the end of his contract to start working for his new team. "I am committed to leading Flamengo to its goals," Sousa said in an interview from Europe; "I want to generate excitement among the fans and preserve the club's success culture."
While the Brazilians welcomed the Portuguese with open arms, the Poles marked one big X on him;
"This is his irresponsible behavior" was the outrage of the association's president Cesari Kolja, who at first refused to release Susa but was left with no choice;
"I am shocked and disappointed because I did not expect such a thing to happen," added team star Robert Lewandowski.
The Polish media also remained painful and damaged, and in one of the scathing columns the commentator Matioz Miga wrote;
"Sousa was supposed to teach us to play better, be braver and bring us to the levels of the big teams. In the end he taught us something we already know: not to trust strangers."
Jesus.
Open doors for his countrymen's coaches, Photo: AFP
Sousa's decision is certainly controversial, but it also puts the coaches' priorities in order.
The Portuguese has given up a job that could lead him to the World Cup to coach a big team from the Brazilian league, but not one that plays in Europe.
Prestige, at least for him, is still in the club segment - and so is money.
In fact, the Portuguese paid compensation to Poland to get to Flamengo.
Now, all he has left to do is prove that all this rush was worth it and that he is capable of stepping into the shoes of Georges Jesus and leading the Mario team to similar achievements.
And as for Jesus, it turns out he's on his way to Brazil too.
He left Benfica following a crisis with the fans and management and is on his way to signing champions Atletico Mineiro.
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