- Two of the eight best teams in this year's Gloria Eterna are led by Portuguese managers.
- In four of the last seven editions of the CONMEBOL Libertadores, the champions have been guided by Portuguese managers, highlighting an increasingly significant trend in the competition.
The CONMEBOL Libertadores once again has a Portuguese accent. The 2026 quarter-finals will feature two managers born in Portugal: Abel Ferreira, at the helm of Palmeiras, and Leonardo Jardim, in charge of Flamengo. Their presence is no isolated coincidence, but rather the latest chapter in a path that has become firmly established in South American football in recent years.
Ferreira and Jardim are two of the eight names still in contention for the Gloria Eterna. Palmeiras saw off Cerro Porteño in the Round of 16, while the Rio de Janeiro side eliminated Cruzeiro, who were themselves managed by another Portuguese, Artur Jorge.
The phenomenon goes far beyond this year's competition. Since 2019, Portuguese managers have guided teams to four of the last seven CONMEBOL Libertadores titles: Jorge Jesus led Flamengo to glory in 2019; Abel Ferreira secured back-to-back triumphs in 2020 and 2021; and Artur Jorge guided Botafogo to their first international title in 2024.
Jorge Jesus, where it all began
The recent story began with Jorge Jesus. In 2019, the Portuguese manager arrived at Flamengo and built one of the most memorable teams in recent South American football history. That side won the CONMEBOL Libertadores after a dramatic finish against Marcelo Gallardo's River Plate in the first single-match final, opening a door that would later be followed through by other Portuguese compatriots.
The Amadora-born manager joined the 'Mengão' from Al Hilal, with whom he had won the Saudi Arabian Super Cup in 2018, and left his mark on the Brazilian side: he won the CONMEBOL Libertadores, the CONMEBOL Recopa and three domestic titles.
Abel Ferreira and the continuation of the trend
Ferreira's arrival at Palmeiras proved to be a turning point. The Portuguese took charge in 2020 and quickly led the São Paulo club to the top of the continent. The 'Verdão' won the 2020 edition, with Breno Lopes emerging as the hero after scoring a dramatic late winner in the final against Santos at the Maracanã.
A year later, the reigning champions once again showcased their pedigree and celebrated a second consecutive title – a feat last achieved 20 years earlier, when Boca Juniors were crowned continental champions in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Their opponents in the final, played in Montevideo, were Flamengo, with historic figures Raphael Veiga and Deyverson writing their names into Palmeiras' golden history as the match's goalscorers.
His influence remains to this day: in 2026, Ferreira is still at the helm of Palmeiras and has once again demonstrated his enduring impact by guiding his team to the quarter-finals, following their run to the 2025 final, where they lost to Flamengo.
Artur Jorge, another Portuguese at the summit
The next chapter came in 2024. Artur Jorge joined 'Fogão' after winning the Portuguese League Cup with Sporting Braga, and he could hardly have enjoyed a better first spell in Brazilian football: he won the Brasileirão and guided Botafogo to their first international title.
In an all-Portuguese-speaking final, Botafogo defeated Atlético Mineiro 3-1 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, making Artur Jorge the third Portuguese manager to win the competition.
In 2026, fate once again brought him up against a fellow countryman: he took charge of Cruzeiro and faced Leonardo Jardim in the Round of 16. Flamengo prevailed over the tie, eliminating the 2024 champions from the competition.
