Official: Botafogo announces the dismissal of Bruno Lage
Botafogo officially announced the dismissal of Portuguese coach Bruno Lage in the early hours of the morning. Without much explanation, the Rio de Janeiro club stated that the decision was made by owner John Textor and the football department because “the recent results were not as expected.” The draw against Goiás (1-1) put Bruno Lage under unbearable pressure. In the early morning, the Brazilian press mentioned various voices within the club’s management structure supporting the coach’s departure, with the decision resting in Textor’s hands. Some even reported that the dismissal was already a decision made by the American businessman, who was trying to reach an agreement for the termination of the contract with the former Benfica coach, as it ultimately turned out to be true. Botafogo fans booed Bruno Lage at the beginning, halftime, and end of the match against Goiás, shouting ‘fool’, to which the coach responded with applause. The draw left Botafogo with a seven-point advantage over Red Bull Bragantino, now in second place. However, the criticism went beyond the results, extending to the way Lage managed the starting lineup by leaving Tiquinho Soares on the bench against Armando Evangelista’s team. Ironically, Tiquinho would go on to score the equalizing goal. Throughout the day, banners calling for Lage’s departure appeared around the stadium. There were talks of a meeting between the players, the football department, and Textor, where the players reportedly requested the Portuguese coach’s resignation. Thus, the divorce is confirmed. Bruno Lage, who replaced Luís Castro when he decided to sign with Al Nassr, managed Botafogo in 15 matches, ten in the league. He won four, drew seven, and lost another four, all consecutively. He was eliminated from the South American Cup by the Argentinian team Defensa y Justicia.
