Filipe Luis Aims to Join Elite Group of Libertadores Champions as Both Player and Coach
Filipe Luis, the current coach of Flamengo, is on the verge of making history in the Copa Libertadores. As a player, he secured two championships with Flamengo in 2019 and 2022. If Flamengo claims the title this year, Luis will join an elite group of individuals who have won the prestigious tournament both as a player and as a coach.
Filipe Luis’s Ambition in the Libertadores
To date, only one Brazilian has achieved the rare feat of winning the Libertadores both as a player and coach. Renato Gaúcho first made his mark in 1983, leading Grêmio to victory. Years later, in 2017, he replicated his success with the same club as their coach.
International Comparisons
Globally, the first foreign player to win the Libertadores in both roles was Argentine Humberto Maschio. He celebrated his initial victory with Racing in 1967, before guiding Independiente to triumph in 1973.
Further examples include:
- Roberto Ferreiro: Won as a player with Independiente in 1965, later coaching the team to another title.
- Luis Cubilla: Secured two titles with Peñarol and one with Nacional as a player, later winning with Olimpia.
- José Omar Pastoriza: Celebrated victories with Independiente as both a player and coach (1972, 1984).
- Nery Pumpido: Triumphed with River Plate in 1996 and then coached Olimpia to a title in 2002.
- Marcelo Gallardo: Another River Plate legend, winning in 1996 as a player and two more times as a coach (2015, 2018).
As Flamengo aims for its fourth Libertadores title, Filipe Luis is not only chasing a championship but is also aspiring for a place among the all-time greats. Should he succeed, Luis will unlock a legacy that blends his notable playing career with a budding coaching legacy.
