Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough have both contacted Filipe Luis over a possible managerial move. The Brazilian is now firmly on the radar of Championship clubs ahead of the summer.
Sports Witness Source It is understood that both parties have held talks with Koch's representatives in recent weeks. Watford have also retained interest, but their position is less advanced and is currently in the background.
It is a condition that is developing silently. Earlier in April, during Brazilian reporting Corinthians' unsuccessful attempt to hire himIt had already been hinted that Filipe Luis was in talks with a Championship club.
This appears to have now evolved into a solid approach from many sides.
Flamengo builds strong profile
Filipe Luis comes to the market with a strong and well-documented track record from his time at Flamengo. That may have attracted Middlesbrough, QPR and others.
Between 2024 and 2026, he took charge of 101 matches and won approximately 63 to 64 of them. This brought the win rate closer to 70%. Therefore, this places him among the most accomplished coaches of Brazilian top-flight football during that period.
His trophy wins are equally remarkable. They won five major titles in a short period of time – the Copa do Brasil in 2024, followed by the quadruple (Supercopa, state championship, Copa Libertadores and league) in 2025. That sequence established him as one of the most successful managers in Flamengo's recent history.
The numbers behind those titles are also revealed. Flamengo scored 184 goals in their 101 matches. This means his average remains comfortably above 1.8 goals per game.
His teams combined offensive output with structural organisation, while his earlier work with the club's youth sides also drew praise for continuity and development.
Despite that success, his exit in March 2026 came as a surprise. Phillip Lewis was ruled out after an 8-0 win in the state championship. There was discontent within the team from the beginning of the season. Plus, there were contractual disagreements behind the scenes... and an alleged betrayal.
drama on betrayal
As we covered a while agoFlamengo's board learned that Filipe Luis was in talks with Chelsea's owner group Bluco over a deal at the end of 2025.
Negotiations with the London ownership group took place in late December, while their contract renewal negotiations were still ongoing in Brazil.
Initially, the former Chelsea defender believed the opportunity could involve a role directly linked to Stamford Bridge. However, they later learned that the position under discussion was linked to Strasbourg, another club under the same ownership umbrella.
Filipe Luis went three days without replying to Flamengo during the renewal process. That silence troubled the board. The club president felt personally betrayed.
The manager then resumed talks with Flamengo and eventually signed a new deal. But the damage was already done.
At the same time, Flamengo saw an opportunity in the market. The availability of Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim increased the pressure internally. Ultimately, this contributed to the decision to make the change, despite Philippe Louis' strong overall record.
QPR and Middlesbrough offer different paths
Filipe Luis now lives in Spain and plans to wait until the European season ends before making a decision, as recently reported by Brazilian journalist george nicola. His agent, Jorge Mendes, is expected to manage the offers as the clubs formalize their interest.
Of those clubs, QPR and Middlesbrough stand out for different reasons.
Middlesbrough offers a more competitive short-term project. They remain within reach of a playoff position and still have a credible path to promotion. Kim Helberg won 12 of their 26 games, indicating a team still capable of maintaining their top six position.
QPR, meanwhile, are even further off the pace. Julian Stephan's return of 1.33 points per game leaves them about 10 points shy of the playoff spots. However, the London club is exploring a long-term rebuild and consider Filipe Luis a potential fit for that direction.
Watford are keeping their distance
Filipe Luiz is also on Watford's radar, although his approach has been more cautious.
He appointed Edward Still in February and is expected to re-evaluate his managerial position at the end of the season. With nearly 11 points separating them from the playoff spots and averaging 1.18 points per game in recent matches, their focus is not on immediate change.
For the time being, they have placed Filipe Luis on the shortlist for the summer rather than pursuing talks.
what happens next
In that respect, Filipe Luis has made his intentions clear. Jorge Nicola claimed to have rejected Brazilian offers and relocated to Spain to bring himself closer to the European market.
There have already been links with clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. Additionally, there have been previous suggestions to include the Bluco Group and Strasbourg.
QPR and Middlesbrough are now making solid moves, with the Championship emerging as a realistic entry point into English football.
Middlesbrough may offer the clearest (or fastest) route to the Premier League, but as the summer approaches both clubs are actively shaping the next phase of this story.
