Argentinian Sampaoli leaves Spain to take over from Brazilian Flamengo

April 17 - Jorge Sampaoli has taken over from Vitor Pereira as Flamengo's new manager. He will make his debut on Thursday against the Chilean Nublense in the Copa Libertadores.

Sacking by Sevilla in March over fears of relegation from La Liga, Sampaoli (pictured) signed a contract until 2024 with Flamengo and immediately finds himself under pressure. The Rio club have already missed out on five titles this season and fans have protested against the club's management, demanding the resignation of the board.

Last week, Flamengo suffered an embarrassing 2-0 loss to lowly Maringa in the Brazilian Cup.

Sampaoli succeeds Portugal's Pereira. The Argentine was the favorite with Jorge Jesus, the club's messiah in 2019.

Jesus, however, is in the midst of a Turkish title battle with Fenerbahce, and after initial negotiations Flamengo and Jesus were unable to reach an agreement. Sampaoli has previous experience in Brazil, having coached Santos and Atletico Mineiro. With the Belo Horizonte club he won the local state championship.

He will have his work cut out for him with Flamengo in Serie A, the Brazilian Cup and the Copa Libertadores, an even bigger goal this season with the final scheduled for the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro in November.

Last year, Flamengo won the continental competition as well as the Brazilian Cup before, inexplicably, they sacked their coach Dorival Junior. Pereira never played his team and succumbed to pressure from fans, media and directors.

On Sunday, after traveling 20 hours from Spain, the Argentinian and more than 40,000 Flamenguistas were at the Maracana to watch the club's curtain-raiser for the 2023 Serie A season against Curitiba. After 12 minutes, Aryton Lucas opened the scoring with a screamer and Flamengo showed greater commitment than in their previous lackluster performances.

Gabriel Barbosa and Pedro sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory. Known for his attacking style of play with high pressing in a 3-4-3 formation, Sampaoli will get his first real runout with his team in midweek against Nublense.

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