Rui Costa negotiates with Leonardo Jardim, the “first choice” that Vieira would have made in 2022 instead of Schmidt – Football

Benfica is negotiating with former Sporting coach Leonardo Jardim, in light of Roger Schmidt’s departure, announced this Saturday by the club.

In June 2022, the former president of the reds, Luís Filipe Vieira, confided in an interview with CMTV that “the first choice” he would have made instead of the German was Jardim.

At 50 years of age, the Portuguese, born in Venezuela, is in ‘pole position’ to take over the reins of the Eagles’ football team, although Rui Costa is still considering the names of Abel Ferreira, from Palmeiras, and Sérgio Conceição, currently without a club.

In Portugal, Jardim coached Camacha, Chaves, Beira Mar and Sp. Braga before moving to Olympiacos and winning a Greek championship and a cup. He returned to Portugal to join Alvalade. He spent a year with the Lions and then left for Monaco, where he spent six seasons in France, highlighted by the 2016/2017 championship title.

At Al Hilal, he won the Saudi Arabian League and Super Cup in 2021/2022. He moved to rivals Al Ahli the following season and last season he managed Al-Rayyan in the United Arab Emirates.