Jardim Resigns: Brazil Coach Cites Health

Thibaut Simon, Media365, published on Tuesday December 16, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.

Leonardo Jardim announces at the age of 51 that he is resigning from his post as coach of Cruzeiro in Brazil for personal reasons.

Arrived on February 4, 2025 as coach of Cruzeiro (Brazil) after an unsuccessful experience in the United Arab Emirates in Al-Ain (November 2024 – February 2025) and only 14 matches managed, Leonardo Jardim announces his resignation from his post. 10 months after his arrival, the Portuguese explained his decision this Monday during a press point. On X, the Belo Horizonte club published a message. “Coach Leonardo Jardim will not remain at the head of the team for the 2026 season,” Cruzeiro communicated, specifying that the 51-year-old technician and his assistants were leaving the club. While he had one year left on his contract with one as an option, Jardim will now take care of his health as he explained.

Jardim must rest

Third in the championship with Cruzeiro, Jardim ended his season on December 14 with an elimination in the semi-final of the Brazilian Cup against Memphis Depay’s Corinthians. In front of the press, the Lusitanian spoke of “warning signals”, which reinforced his decision to take a step back and rest. “Jardim, slow down a little, you need to take care of your physical and mental health,” he said, speaking of himself in the third person. In the personal reasons explained, Jardim was also confronted with the health problems of one of his relatives. Replacing Fernando Diniz, the former manager of Olympiakos had succeeded the Brazil coach who was briefly on the selection bench in 2023. Another ex-coach could take over from Jardim at Cruziero since the name of Tite (64 years old) is mentioned.

With good memories of the Principality

With eight titles gleaned during his coaching career, Leonardo Jardim failed this season to lead Cruzeiro to a championship title behind which the club has been chasing since 2014. For fans of the French championship, Jardim is the coach who led Monaco to the Ligue 1 title during the 2016/2017 season. Ahead of PSG at the time, Jardim had a certain Kylian Mbappé in his squad, but also big names in football like Radamel Falcao, Bernardo Silva, Joao Moutinho and Thomas Lemar. We hope to see the Portuguese coach back on the bench of a club soon, having managed 12 teams during his career.