Filipe Luis set to become Monaco boss despite license issue

Filipe Luís is poised to make his directorial debut in European football, having reportedly reached an agreement to become the new head coach of AS Monaco.

The former Brazil international had also entered negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen, following the German club’s dismissal of Kasper Hjulmand after a failure to secure Champions League qualification. However, those discussions faltered due to a licensing technicality. As transfer expert Florian Plettenburg revealed, Luís currently lacks the specific credentials required for smooth entry into European management.

“The problem: Luis only holds the CONMEBOL coaching licence, not the UEFA Pro Licence. Leverkusen were in contact with UEFA to find a solution, but the process took time. Luis did not want to wait, especially as AS Monaco were also pushing for him.

“Monaco are now prepared to pay fines of up to €25,000 per match if necessary. If no special exemption is granted, his CONMEBOL licence would automatically be recognised as a UEFA Pro Licence after three years as a head coach. Luis has been Flamengo head coach for around 1.5 years.”

At 40 years old, Luís boasts a remarkably decorated resume from his tenure at Flamengo. During his 100 matches in charge, he averaged a trophy every 14 games, securing seven titles before his departure in March, an exit reportedly prompted by a rift with the club’s board.

Monaco appears undeterred by the potential regulatory hurdles, signaling a clear willingness to absorb significant matchday fines to secure his services. Barring a late intervention or an unexpected exemption from UEFA, the appointment is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, ensuring Luís is in place before the new campaign begins.