Cruzeiro Appoints Leonardo Jardim as New Head Coach

Cruzeiro has officially named Leonardo Jardim as their new head coach, just hours after he departed from his position at Al-Ain in the UAE Pro League. The Brazilian Serie A team, which finished ninth in the league last season, has signed Jardim to a contract that will keep him at the club through to the end of 2026.

Following Jardim's exit, Al-Ain quickly appointed Vladimir Ivic as his replacement. Ivic, previously associated with Watford and Maccabi Tel Aviv, signed a contract for a year and a half. His brief tenure at Watford began in August 2020, when he led the team in the second tier after their relegation from the Premier League, but his time there ended just four months later.

Jardim’s contract with Al-Ain was set to conclude at the end of the revamped Club World Cup in July. He joined the club in November after a series of coaching roles in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. His departure follows a disappointing performance in the Asian Champions League Elite, where Al-Ain suffered a 2-1 defeat against Al-Rayyan, leading to their elimination from the tournament without achieving a victory. In addition, Al-Ain's recent form has been poor, with only one victory in their last five league matches, resulting in them earning just two points from seven games in the Asian Champions League Elite and occupying the fourth position in the UAE Pro League after 14 matches.