As a coach, Filipe Luis has so far made a name for himself only in Brazil. Now he is heading to Europe for the first time to join AS Monaco—a club that also hopes to help the 40-year-old overcome a few hurdles.
The tenure of Hütter’s successor, Sébastien Pocognoli, didn’t last very long in the end. He led AS Monaco from the sidelines for just 38 competitive matches. Now the Monegasques have found a successor whose name has been circulating throughout the principality for some time. Filipe Luis is joining the Ligue 1 club from Brazil and has initially signed a two-year contract through 2028.
The 40-year-old, who spent most of his playing career in Europe with Atlético Madrid—winning the Europa League twice, the Spanish league title once, and the Super Cup once with the club—has so far only coaching experience from a stint in his native Brazil. He has been coaching Flamengo Rio de Janeiro since October 2024 and has won a total of five titles—including last year’s Copa Libertadores. His successful tenure also earned him the South American Coach of the Year award in 2025.
Nevertheless, shortly after a convincing 8-0 victory over Madureira in early March, the Copacabana-based club parted ways with its coach, who was subsequently linked to several European clubs. Both Chelsea FC and Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen were reportedly interested in Filipe Luis. As is well known, both clubs ultimately chose other options in Xabi Alonso and Carles Martinez.
Licensing issue remains
Bayer 04, for example, ultimately passed on the Brazilian mainly because he does not hold a UEFA Pro license. If Monaco does not receive a special exemption, the club would have to pay a fine on every match day. This fine could amount to as much as 25,000 euros. Although his current CONMEBOL license would also be recognized if Filipe Luis had already served as head coach for three years, that is not the case. However, the club did not comment on this during the presentation.
No international business
The 44-time Brazilian international is now tasked with getting the Monegasques back on track. In the 2023–24 season, the team finished in third place under coach Adi Hütter, thereby qualifying for the Champions League. In the following season, however, they were unable to build on that success, were eliminated from the Champions League as early as the playoffs, and finished only seventh in Ligue 1. As a result, the Monegasques missed out on international competition.
Filipe Luis himself is understandably excited about his new challenge: “I’m thrilled and very happy to be here. It’s like a dream come true. It was an easy decision for me to come to Monaco. I believe the club’s vision and the support they’ve given me have shown me that Monaco really wanted me. That warmed my heart and gave me exactly what I needed.”
Incidentally, AS Monaco kicks off the new season on August 22 with an away game against AC Le Havre. Before that, they’ll also face Liverpool FC in a high-profile preseason friendly on August 9.