Bap Reveals Attempt to Save Filipe Luís Reign & Why It Failed
Rio de Janeiro – Flamengo president Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap, has defended the club’s decision to dismiss former manager Filipe Luís, asserting the move was a necessary step to safeguard the team’s season. The dismissal, which came after recent setbacks in the Supercopa do Brasil and CONMEBOL Recopa, sparked considerable debate, but Bap insists a change was required to prevent a downward spiral.
Addressing Flamengo’s board of directors on Thursday, , Bap explained the decision wasn’t taken lightly, but stemmed from a consistent pattern of analysis and internal discussion. He stated that the club’s leadership had identified a trajectory that threatened the overall success of the year. “I speak from day one at the club, my commitment is 100% with Flamengo of the present and the future,” Bap said, according to reports. “Professionalism does not mean the absence of difficult decisions.”
The president emphasized the structured approach taken by the club’s leadership, highlighting a process of regular evaluation – twice weekly meetings dedicated to reviewing plans, results, and potential adjustments. “We have a structure geared towards football, under a clearly defined leadership, based on facts, hours of work, meetings, discussions, analyses, comparisons of decisions with results,” he explained. “And the project needed to deliver the best result. That is professionalism.”
Bap acknowledged the inherent difficulty of removing a club icon like Filipe Luís, stating that there is “never a good time” to make such a challenging call. He countered criticism that the decision was made hastily, explaining that it was the culmination of a sustained period of observation and analysis. “Some decisions, if you make them at 3 a.m., at noon on Tuesday, at 9 p.m. On Thursday, before lunch, after the game, before a press conference, there is no good time to make some difficult decisions,” he said. “It’s always difficult.”
The president further clarified that the decision wasn’t impulsive, but rather a direct consequence of identified “cause and effect” relationships observed through the club’s analytical process. “It was done quickly because there is cause and effect, there is analysis of the process of cause and effect, one day yes, the other also after the games,” Bap stated. “Twice a week you have meetings where you talk about what you planned, what you did, what was the result, and you discuss a series of subjects.”
While Bap refrained from detailing the specific issues within Filipe Luís’s approach, he did reveal that attempts were made to course-correct. “The attempt to correct course was made,” he said. “At some point, we understood that this was not possible and we made the decision we had made.” He added that the decision was made proactively, believing it was better to act decisively than to allow the situation to deteriorate further. “These difficult decisions, but bad they may seem, when you face some situations that you do not see a positive perspective, people, it is better to make the decision today than tomorrow.”
The timing of the announcement coincided with the approval of a three-year sponsorship deal with Ademicon, worth R$42 million, which was presented to the board for ratification. Bap used the opportunity to contextualize the managerial change within the broader challenges facing the club, particularly as they prepare for the upcoming Carioca final.
The dismissal of Filipe Luís and the subsequent appointment of Leonardo Jardim represent a significant shift for Flamengo. The club is clearly prioritizing a return to winning form and believes Jardim is the manager to deliver that. Bap’s detailed explanation to the board underscores the seriousness with which the club is approaching this period of transition, and his insistence on a data-driven, analytical approach suggests a commitment to long-term stability and success. The president’s comments, as reported, emphasize a focus on future victories and a willingness to make difficult choices to achieve them.
The club’s director of football, José Boto, carried out the dismissal of Filipe Luís at the president’s request, immediately following the manager’s post-match press conference after a convincing win over Madureira in the Campeonato Carioca. This swift action, while surprising to many, highlights the decisiveness of the club’s leadership and their determination to address perceived issues without delay.
In an audio message circulated among club officials, Bap likened the situation to being on the wrong path, stating, “When you take the wrong train in life, you know what you have to do? Obtain off at the first station possible and return.” This analogy encapsulates the club’s rationale for the change, suggesting a belief that continuing on the current trajectory would ultimately lead to failure.