Vanderlei Luxemburgo has returned for a fourth spell as Flamengo Head Coach.
The 62 year-old comes in to replace Ney Franco, who was sacked following an exit from the Copa Libertadores at the second stage and a disappointing start to the 2014 Brasileirão.
After eleven rounds, Flamengo sit bottom of the standings, level on seven points with Coritiba and Figueirense.
Sunday’s 4-0 defeat to Internacional, which was preceded by a 2-1 loss at home to Atlético Paranaense three days earlier, forced Flamengo officials to act, with Luxemburgo agreeing a contract that will run until then of the season.
“The new coach has signed a deal until December 2015 and his first match will be in the derby against Botafogo next Sunday at the Maracanã," read a statement on the club’s website.
Luxemburgo will hope his fourth stint goes better than his previous three. His first two [1991 and 2005] ended after less than a year, while his most recent – October 2010 to February 2012 – yielded just the 2011 Campeonato Carioca, a title Ney Franco also won this year.
In the 29 months since Luxemburgo left for Grêmio, Joel Santana, Dorival Júnior, Jorginho, Mano Menezes and Franco have all been appointed Head Coach, but found little success or continuity.
Luxemburgo will hope to change that in what is his 30th appointment across a 31 year managerial career that has seen him win 23 major honours and coach the likes of Brazil and Real Madrid.
