Struggling Flamengo sack Andrade
Reuters - Saturday 24 April 2010, 07:28
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian champions
Flamengo sacked coach Andrade and two club officials on Friday,
the three men falling victim to the team's disappointing
Libertadores Cup campaign.
Flamengo scraped into the knockout phased of South
America's elite club competition on Thursday when, having
failed to win their group, they finished sixth and last among
the best second-placed teams.
"Some things in the football department remained
unsubstantial. I wasn't comfortable with the way the football
was being run and I want to feel joy and pleasure at being
here," club president Patricia Amorim said.
"I waited for us to pass to the next phase of the
Libertadores, since those people deserve to leave by the club's
front door. After all, they gave the club a national title
after 17 years," she told a news conference at the club's
training ground.
Amorim said she would name a new coach over the weekend.
Former Brazil and Flamengo player Andrade took charge last
June and became the first black coach to win the Brazilian
championship, leading the country's most popular team on a
brilliant charge to the title in the final weeks.
This season, results have been disappointing with Flamengo
losing the Carioca (Rio) state championship title to Botafogo
that they had held for three years.
They were not helped by Brazil striker Adriano's
indifferent form, minor injuries that saw him play only 13 of
Flamengo's 24 matches this year and an apparent resurgence of
his personal problems.
Local media said Flamengo would like to appoint former
player Leonardo, AC Milan's coach, as their football director.
Andrade is the 12th coach to lose his job among the 20 top
flight clubs in Brazil this year.
Flamengo meet fellow Brazilians Corinthians in the first
knockout round of the Libertadores Cup with the first leg at
the Maracana next Wednesday.
Follow FFT.com on Twitter
Join FFT.com on Facebook