Leonardo Jardim announced that he will take a break from his coaching career, explaining in a press conference the reasons that led him to ask to leave Cruzeiro, the club with which he had a contract until the end of 2026.
Visibly emotional, the 51-year-old Portuguese coach stated that the decision was taken to preserve his physical and mental health, after a period of great personal and professional exhaustion. Leonardo Jardim recalled that, before taking command of Cruzeiro, he lived intense weeks between traveling and going to the hospital to accompany his wife, returning to activity almost immediately.
The coach highlighted that he always goes into projects to dedicate himself 100% and that, at this moment, he feels that he is unable to provide the level of energy that he demands of himself. He also mentioned that he already made a similar decision in the past, when he left Monaco after six years, then took an extended break to regain strength.
Despite his departure, Leonardo Jardim gave a very positive assessment of his time at the Belo Horizonte club. In his debut season in the Brasileirão, he led Cruzeiro to third place, their best record since 2014, also guaranteeing their return to the Taça Libertadores and reaching the semi-finals of the Taça do Brasil. He admitted only frustration at not being able to win a trophy.
When asked about the choice of successor, he stepped away from the process and guaranteed complete confidence in the club’s structure, making it clear that the decision is up to the management. He also reinforced his friendly relationship with the president and his gratitude for the support he received during the period in which he was in technical command of the team.
Leonardo Jardim about his departure from Cruzeiro
“The reasons are personal. Firstly, it’s the wear and tear this year, not just sporting, that has taken place. Some signs alerted me: Garden, for a little while, your physical and mental health needs to be preserved”
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