Filipe Luis, the 40-year-old former Brazilian left-back who carved out a decorated playing career at Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, has been appointed head coach of AS Monaco on a deal running through June 2028. It’s his first managerial role in European football, and it comes after a remarkably successful stint at Flamengo where he won the 2024 Copa do Brasil and the 2025 Copa Libertadores.
What happened at Monaco
Monaco’s 2025-26 season was, to put it gently, underwhelming. The club finished seventh in Ligue 1 under Sébastien Pocognoli, who had taken charge in October 2025 after replacing Adi Hutter. Seventh place meant no Champions League qualification, which is the financial lifeline that elite European clubs increasingly depend on.
The appointment reportedly drew interest from other top clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen. Monaco won the race, largely through the influence of sporting director Thiago Scuro, whose Brazilian connections likely smoothed the path.
Luis’s track record and the risk profile
