2024 Copa Libertadores’ All Brazilian Final without Brazilian Managers

 

2024 Copa Libertadores’ all-Brazilian final will be without any Brazilian bosses in the dugout.

This year’s Copa Libertadores finally reaches the last stage with once again all Brazilian finals in the summit. Botafogo progressed to their first ever final in the competition history to take on their local contender, Atlético Mineiro, also known as Atlético-MG, the champions in the 2013 edition. Both sides have eliminated Uruguay's Peñarol and Argentina’s River Plate, respectively, in the semifinal. The final will be staged in Estadio Mâs Monumental, Buenos Aires, on November 30.

Copa Libertadores is no longer stranger to all Brazilian finals. In fact, it has already been the sixth one in history. The last three ones even took place in the past five years, which demonstrates the dominance of Brazilian clubs in the tournament. What’s more, they have always been the champions since 2019 too.

However, there is an anomaly in this year’s all-Brazilian final. Unlike the previous editions, neither finalist is led by their native managers, which is the first time in history. Botafogo is under the tutelage of Portuguese boss Artur Jorge, whereas Atlético Mineiro has Argentina's gaffer, Gabriel Milito, in charge of the squad. The 2024 Copa Libertadores final is also their first chance to win major continental competition. Find out their managerial career and how they end up in their current position below.

Botafogo’s Artur Jorge

The 52-year-old gaffer began his coaching career at FC Famalicão back in 2009 but spent most of his career at Sporting Braga, where he also spent most of his playing career. He had been at the helm of their team at various levels, from the youth team, U23 side, to caretaker of the first team before being appointed as the senior side’s boss in 2022. In his first full season in charge, Jorge managed to guide them to finish third with the best points, wins, and goals in club history, plus qualified to the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in 11 years.

In his second season, the former centre back was able to lead his team to snatch their first ever win in the Champions League while crushing Union Berlin 3-2 on the road. Such a victory helped them secure one spot in the Europa League by finishing third in the final standings. Unfortunately, Braga’s continental campaign was cut short following their unexpected loss to Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ in the playoff round. During his tenure in Braga, Jorge only won one title, the Portuguese League Cup in January, before he moved to South America by signing for Botafogo last April.

Atlético Mineiro’s Gabriel Milito

Unlike Jorge, Gabriel Milito had been a famous player with fairly glittering career in Europe. He was part of the Barcelona squad under Pep Guardiola when they won a treble in 2008/09 and clinched double titles in 2010/11. Despite not being the first choice, mainly due to his physical fitness and injuries, he did also lift all the major trophies from La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup to FIFA Club World Cup.

His managerial career began in his last club, which was also his first professional team as a player, Independiente. Milito was handed to lead the reserve team for one year before he stepped down in late 2014. He then received an offer to take charge of Estudiantes de La Plata in 2015.

Despite sealing one berth in the Copa Libertadores, the former centre back opted to resign. After returning back to Independiente and Estudiantes again, plus a one-year stint with Chile’s O’Higgins, the former Real Zaragoza man was named Argentinos Juniors’ boss in January 2021. He was able to secure one spot in CONMEBOL’s top flight club competition in 2022. Yet, the Bernal-born manager once again terminated his contract after extending it till 2027 after suffering a dismal defeat against San Martín in the early knockout stage of the domestic cup 2023.

In March 2024, Milito joined Atlético Mineiro and helped them win over their archrival, Cruzeiro, in the regional championship final. It is his only silverware to date. Should he beat Botafogo later in the summit, it would be a major boost for the gaffer, who earned 42 international caps with Albiceleste.