Meet the group! Filipe Luís has played with almost the entire Flamengo squad

Filipe Luís, idol and now interim coach of Flamengo, officially took command of the main team this Monday (30). The former player began preparing the squad with the aim of reorganizing the team for the sequence of games. The first training session led by Filipe took place at 3:30 pm (Brasília time) at CT Ninho do Urubu, and marks the beginning of his journey in the new role. The club is confident that his experience on the field will bring immediate benefits to the team.

The announcement of Filipe Luís as interim coach came after the dismissal of the previous coach, who left the position after a series of negative results. As a result, Flamengo's board opted for an internal and temporary solution, betting on a name that knows the squad and has a good relationship with the players. The former left-back, who built a solid and respected career in European and Brazilian football, now faces the challenge of guiding Flamengo to a recovery within the season.

During the first training session, Filipe prioritized tactical organization and defensive positioning, areas that he has always mastered as a player. Ninho do Urubu had an atmosphere of concentration and seriousness, with the athletes responding positively to the new commander's instructions. Filipe Luís also dedicated a significant part of his time to individual conversations with some players, seeking to understand their expectations and align the strategy for the upcoming games.

Filipe Luís' challenge in the Flamengo will not be easy, considering the pressure for results and the club's unstable moment . The board did not determine a specific deadline for the former full-back to remain as interim coach, but the expectation is that he will lead the team until the arrival of a new effective coach. Behind the scenes, it is said that the transition with a name already known internally can help minimize the impacts of drastic changes.

Filipe Luís is a big name in the Flamengo, with a winning record and respect earned on and off the field. The board's confidence in the former player's work is an indication that he will have the freedom to implement some of his tactical ideas, but always with the focus on maintaining the team's balance and competitiveness. According to sources linked to the club, Filipe has the full support of the players and the technical committee, who see in him a positive leadership for the group.

With the beginning of this new cycle, Flamengo hopes to return to the path of victories and stabilize performance within the championship. The fans, who have always been an important force for the club, are already mobilizing to support their idol in this challenge. For now, Filipe Luís' mission will be to organize the house and prepare the squad for the next commitments, while the board defines the team's future coach.

The possibility of Filipe Luís remaining in charge of the main squad of Flamengoin 2025 is being discussed behind the scenes. Although the current board sees the continuity of the work as positive, the scenario is not simple due to the club's electoral calendar. The current president, Rodolfo Landim, ends his term at the end of 2024, and the definition of who will lead the technical team will be the responsibility of his successor.

Filipe Luís, who ended his career as a player at the end of 2023, quickly assumed the position of coach of the first team, gaining the trust of the squad and the board. His early work was assessed as promising, especially in group management and the development of young talent. However, staying in the position will depend on who wins the election for the club's presidency. If the opposition wins, new plans can be designed for the football department.

Internally, there is already a consensus on the importance of maintaining stability in the technical command, even more so after a turbulent period in recent years, marked by successive changes of coaches. Filipe Luís is seen as a name that understands Flamengo's culture and has the respect of the squad, in addition to being a low-cost bet with great potential for evolution. However, any long-term decision about its future will be conditioned on the outcome of the election.

With the election year approaching, it is natural that the club will start discussing names for the next administration, both in the administrative area as in the football department. Even with the possible continuity of Filipe Luís being analyzed, the situation will only be defined after Landim's successor has been chosen. The current president, who will not be able to run for re-election, will have an influential role in the process, but it will be the new president who will decide the future of the technical command.

One of the main issues debated internally is whether Flamengo will maintain the current policy of betting on former athletes for management positions in football or whether to look for an outside name with proven experience. Filipe Luís, despite having demonstrated initial competence, is still an unknown as a head coach in high-level competitions. Flamengo's performance in the tournaments that remaining in the 2024 season could also influence the debate, with a possible classification for the Libertadores being a decisive factor for their permanence.

With more than 80 matches for Flamengo, Hernane Brocador is one of the recent idols in Red and Black history. Champion of the Copa do Brasil in 2013, the striker, who currently defends Portuguesa-RJ, scored 36 goals at the time.

Such numbers that draw attention because it was a less glamorous time in Gávea, which is experiencing the richest moment in its history and has a cast with several stars.

"I'm still very recognized for 2013", said the veteran, in an interview with ESPN.com.br. "The fans meet me on the street and say I'm the start of everything."

If he scored so many goals in a team without stars, what would Brocador do at Flamengo nowadays? The striker has no doubts and says: if he played in Tite's current squad, he would score more than 40 times a year.

"In that year, 2013, I played 59 matches and scored 36 goals. I believe that, playing these same 59 matches today, even though I was on the bench for three months, I would certainly score more than 43, 44 goals", said Hernane, with confidence.

"Many games in 2013 I had one chance and scored. Today, we see countless chances that Pedro and Gabigol have. So, it was possible to go beyond 43, 44 goals, for sure", added the former number 9.

Hernane Brocador he also praised Flamengo's current squad and predicted more success for the coming years, especially after the construction of the new stadium in Gasologista.

"I won very little: a Campeonato Carioca and a Copa do Brasil. But it's worth it a lot... Today, I imagine that Flamengo still has a lot to grow, especially with the construction of the stadium, its own home. Flamengo will grow even more titles, not to mention Flamengo has already won a lot and will win a lot. more with your new home", he added.