Flamengo Announces Resignation of Coach Jorge Jesus

The Brazilian champion and Copa Libertadores winner, Flamengo, announced on Friday the resignation of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus and thanked him for the six titles conquered during over a year of work.

Although neither the most popular club in Brazil nor the coach referred to the future, it is assumed in Portugal that Jorge Jesus will return to Benfica, the club he coached between 2009 and 2015, and with which he won three leagues, one Portuguese Cup, and five League Cups.

The Rio de Janeiro-based team reported in a statement that the 65-year-old Portuguese coach communicated today during a meeting with the leaders his decision to terminate the contract to return to Portugal.

"Despite regretting the loss of its victorious coach, Flamengo respects his personal decision," the club said in the statement.

The club recalled that, in the thirteen months that counted on Jorge Jesus as a coach, Flamengo "had a spectacular performance" and won the Copa Libertadores (2019), the Brazilian Championship (2019), the Brazilian Super Cup (2020), the Recopa Sudamericana (2020), the Guanabara Cup (2020), and, last Wednesday, the Carioca Championship (2020).

"On behalf of the entire board and the 42 million Flamengo fans who make up the largest fan base in the world, our utmost gratitude to him and his technical commission for everything that was done, as well as our desire that they continue to have enormous success as they did with us," the statement said.

Jorge Jesus led one of the most valuable squads that Flamengo has ever assembled in its history.

Standouts include forward Gabriel Barbosa "Gabigol," top scorer of the Libertadores and the Brazilian League last year; Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta; left-back Filipe Luis (formerly Atletico Madrid), creative midfielder Diego, left-back Rafinha, and goalkeeper Diego Alves.

Flamengo confirmed Jorge Jesus' departure just hours after the Portuguese press announced that Benfica had reached an agreement for his return to the bench.

According to the versions of the Portuguese sports press, Jesus accepted an agreement to manage Benfica for the next three seasons and is expected in Lisbon this weekend to sign the contract.

In addition to the nine titles conquered with Jorge Jesus on the bench, under his command, Benfica also reached two Europa League finals, although without winning the trophy: in 2013, they lost 1-2 to Chelsea, and in 2014, they fell on penalties against Sevilla.

After leaving Benfica, Jorge Jesus took over as coach of Sporting Portugal, which he led for three seasons, before moving on to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia and arriving at Flamengo in June of last year.

Jesus will fill the vacancy left by his compatriot Bruno Lage, who left the club at the end of June after several setbacks that took him away from the league title.

His first challenge again as coach of the Lisbon club will be the final of the Portuguese Cup on August 1 against Porto, who were crowned league champions two days ago. EFE