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OFFICIAL: Leonardo Jardim appointed as Cruzeiro’s new head coach

4. February 2025
Leonardo Jardim (foto: Getty Images)
Cruzeiro appoints Leonardo Jardim as head coach on a deal until 2026. The Portuguese manager arrives after leaving Al Ain and brings a wealth of experience.

Cruzeiro has officially confirmed the appointment of Leonardo Jardim as their new head coach, signing a deal until the end of 2026. The Portuguese manager arrives in Belo Horizonte alongside his coaching staff, including Antonio Vieira, José Barros, and Diogo Dias.

Jardim’s move to Brazil was finalized just hours after his departure from Al Ain was announced. His final match in charge of the Emirati club came on Tuesday (Feb 3), when Al Ain suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Al Rayyan in the AFC Champions League. He leaves the club in fourth place in the UAE Pro League, 14 points behind the leaders, and winless in the continental tournament after seven matches.

Jardim’s managerial journey

Born in Venezuela, but naturalized as Portuguese, Jardim began his managerial career in Portugal with Chaves, Beira-Mar, and Braga before moving abroad to Olympiacos (2012/13). After a short stint in Greece, he returned to Portugal to take charge of Sporting CP, leading them to a second-place finish in Liga Portugal.

His most notable success came at Monaco, where he spent five and a half years, guiding the club to a historic Ligue 1 title in 2017 and a Champions League semi-final.

Following his European success, Jardim moved to the Middle East, coaching Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Shabab Al Ahli (UAE), and Al Rayyan (Qatar) before taking over Al Ain in November 2024.

Now, he embarks on a new challenge with Cruzeiro, tasked with stabilizing the club after the brief and unsuccessful tenure of Fernando Diniz.

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