Leonardo Jardim’s future at the head of Cruzeiro remains a big unknown for the 2026 season. Although he has a contract in force until
The future of Leonardo Jardim at the helm of Cruzeiro remains a big unknown for the 2026 season. Although he has a contract in force until the end of next year and has led the club to third place in the Brazilian Championship, the Portuguese coach plans to end his career in the technical field. The revelation came from Pedro Lourenço, alias Pedrinho, majority shareholder of SAF celeste, during the Brasileirão 2025 Awards ceremony, held this Monday (12/08) where Raposa accumulated honors among the best in the competition. The leader therefore admitted that the obstacle to maintaining is not financial or sporting, but rather a personal question for the commander.
Pedrinho made it clear that he is making every effort to keep the professional at Toca da Raposa II. The businessman even put on the table a long-term proposal aimed at ensuring employment stability.
“Leonardo Jardim will only leave if he wants to. I have already offered a five-year contract. I talk to him every day. Jardim is a spectacular guy. We owe him a lot,” said the agent, grateful for the “turnaround” that the coach has fostered in the team since his arrival in April.
Pedrinho says Jardim may no longer be coach
However, the 51-year-old coach’s desire to change his lifestyle weighs on the decision. The exhausting routine of travel and the pressure of the Brazilian calendar have exhausted the professional, who has accumulated successes in Monaco, Portugal and the Middle East. Pedrinho was transparent about the dilemma experienced by the Portuguese.
“He doesn’t want to be a coach. We are talking. I hope he continues with us next year, there is the Libertadores,” revealed the businessman.
On the other hand, Jardim prefers silence and escape. After the match against Santos last Sunday, he strayed from the subject and transferred responsibility to the board, immediately focusing on the Brazilian Cup semi-final against Corinthians.
“The conversations… I have already said that I have nothing to say on this issue, but our president knows what is going to happen, and it is to him that I have to entrust the responsibility. The important thing is to focus on the Cup and the time that remains, a goal that we have and where everyone is at 200%,” said the coach.
Uncertainty looms over Toca as the team prepares for this week’s decision. Cruzeiro is betting all its chips on continuing the work that put the team back at the top of the table, but knows Jardim’s personal will could end one of Brazilian football’s most successful partnerships in 2025.
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