Fluminense has turned to a familiar figure to guide them through a crucial year both domestically and internationally. On Thursday, the club officially named Renato ‘Gaúcho’ Portaluppi as their head coach for the sixth time, replacing Mano Menezes following a series of disappointing results.
The 62-year-old Brazilian, who last managed the team in 2013, takes over immediately and will lead Fluminense in both the Copa Sudamericana and the FIFA Club World Cup. Renato’s long history with the club dates back to 2002, when he first took charge, and his return is seen as an effort to bring stability and fresh energy to the squad.
Renato made a name for himself as a player with Gremio, winning the 1983 Copa Libertadores and cementing his status as a club legend. His coaching career has been marked by major successes, including leading Gremio to another Libertadores title in 2017 and winning the Recopa Sudamericana. He has also managed Flamengo and Vasco da Gama, and was briefly considered for the Brazil national team position after Dorival Júnior’s departure.
Fluminense had initially pursued Argentine manager Gabriel Milito, a recent Libertadores finalist with Atlético Mineiro, but he turned down the offer. The decision to part ways with Menezes followed a 2-0 league loss to Fortaleza and a defeat to Flamengo in the Campeonato Carioca final. Renato’s first match in charge will be Sunday’s league encounter against Bragantino, as the Tricolor aim to bounce back quickly.
