Grêmio has officially parted ways with head coach Luis Castro, the club announced this Sunday (13). The decision follows a disappointing 2-1 comeback loss to Vasco at home the previous day, a result that has left the Porto Alegre side teetering on the edge of the relegation zone.
The defeat leaves Grêmio in 15th place in the Brasileirão with 28 points. While they remain technically above the relegation threshold, they hold only a razor-thin advantage over 16th-placed Vasco, staying afloat solely by goal difference.
Luis Castro’s tenure concludes after 50 matches, during which he recorded 19 wins, 14 draws, and 17 losses. While he did manage to lead the club to a Gauchão championship victory over rivals Internacional, his performance in national and international competitions proved inconsistent. Excluding the state championship, Castro recorded more losses (15) than wins (14), a statistic that ultimately exhausted the board’s patience. The coach, who was under contract until December 2027 with a monthly salary of approximately R$ 2 million, leaves behind a departure clause valued at roughly R$ 30 million.
The pressure on the managerial seat comes at a critical juncture for the club. Despite their domestic struggles, Grêmio remains in a strong position in the Copa do Brasil. Currently in the semifinal stage, they are set to face Atlético-MG, with a potential grand final against either Palmeiras or Vasco looming. Winning the tournament would offer a direct path to the 2027 Libertadores group stage, providing a high-stakes incentive for the club’s leadership to secure a swift replacement. Conversely, the team’s season saw an early exit from the Copa Sudamericana at the hands of Bolívar in the round-of-16 playoffs.
In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, the club confirmed that legendary figure Luiz Felipe Scolari—”Felipão”—will take the helm on an interim basis. His first test will be a difficult one: an away match against Botafogo this Wednesday (16) at 7:30 p.m. at the Nilton Santos stadium, a rescheduled fixture that carries significant weight for the club’s survival in the top flight.
While Felipão steadies the ship, the board is not wasting any time in the hunt for a permanent successor. Grêmio is reportedly already eyeing three high-profile candidates to fill the vacancy, aiming to stabilize the team’s campaign and bolster their charge for the Copa do Brasil trophy.
As the search for a new leader begins, the question remains for the Tricolor faithful: Was the dismissal of Luis Castro the right move, and who is the ideal candidate to steer the club through this turbulent season? With the Copa do Brasil within reach and relegation concerns intensifying, the next few days will be pivotal for the future of the club.
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