Brazilian leaders Botafogo sack former Wolves boss Bruno Lage after just three months

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 04 October 2023

Botafogo sack former Wolves boss Lage after just three months

Botafogo - leaders of the Brazilian top flight - announce that they have sacked former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Bruno Lage after less than three months.

Botafogo have announced that they have sacked head coach Bruno Lage after less than three months in charge.

Last October, the Portuguese was removed from his position as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, winning just 19 of his 52 matches at the Premier League outfit.

However, a surprise opportunity presented itself in July after Luis Castro made the decision to leave the Brazilian top-flight leaders for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.

At the time, Botafogo were seven points clear in first place after just 12 matches, with Lage being given a chance to win the club's first Brasileiro Serie A title since 1995.

Eleven games later, Alvinegro Carioca remain seven points clear in the standings, a consequence of Lage delivering 16 points during that period.

Nevertheless, things have quickly turned sour for the 47-year-old, Botafogo being dumped out of the Copa Sudamericana by Defensa y Justicia and suffering three successive defeats in the league.

Botafogo's Tiquinho Soares in action with LDU Quito's Oscar Zambrano on May 4, 2023 © Reuters

A comeback 1-1 draw against 16th-placed Goias earlier this week stop the rot, but chants of "idiot" were aimed at Lage as he left the pitch with the ex-Benfica chief responding with a sarcastic clap.

Botafogo have now announced that they have parted company with Lage, who started with a 12-game unbeaten run but ended with four defeats in five contests.

A statement read: "Botafogo informs that, by decision of John Textor and the football department, Bruno Lage is no longer the coach of the main team.

"Botafogo highlights Bruno Lage's professionalism, character and commitment during the period in which he defended the black and white shirt and was part of the family.

"Despite the coach's start, with 10 unbeaten games, the latest results were not as expected. The club would like to thank Bruno and his entire technical committee for the services provided to Glorioso over the last few months, wishing him much success in his future challenges."

Next up for Botafogo is a trip to sixth-placed Fluminense on October 8.