Atlético Minas Gerais fires Jorge Sampaoli after a run of just two wins in ten games

The board of directors of Atlético from Minas Gerais officially announced, in the early afternoon of this Thursday, February 12, 2026, the dismissal of coach Jorge Sampaoli. The Argentine coach could not resist the internal and external pressure after the 3-3 draw against Remo, in the Arena MRV, accumulating a performance below expectations at the start of the current season. The decision was taken at a meeting at Cidade of Galo, where the black and white leadership understood that the work did not present the technical and tactical evolution necessary for the year’s objectives.

The Belo Horizonte club is going through a critical moment on the field, registering just two victories in the first ten matches played in 2026. Defensive instability and the lack of offensive repertoire were decisive points for management to opt for the early termination of the contractual relationship. With the immediate departure of the foreign technical committee, Atlético is now looking for a new name in the market to reorganize the squad and regain prominence in national competitions.

• The coach accumulated seven draws and one defeat in 2026.
• The team only had two victories in Campeonato Mineiro and Brasileiro.
• Permanent assistant Lucas Gonçalves takes over the team on an interim basis.
• Galo is at risk of not advancing to the semifinals of the state tournament.

In an official note published on its communication channels, Atlético thanked the professional for the services provided and wished him success in his future trajectory. The shutdown comes at a time of uncertainty, as the team returns to the field this Saturday to face Itabirito, in Nova Lima. The match is considered vital to the club’s hopes in the Campeonato Mineiro, although classification now depends on a complex combination of results from other opponents.

Jorge Sampaoli is no longer the coach of Galo

After a meeting at Cidade of Galo, in the early afternoon of this Thursday (12/2), the parties reached an understanding to terminate the technician’s work.

For the match against Itabirito, this Saturday (14/2), at Nova Lima, the…pic.twitter.com/9se1i1O73h

—Atlético (@Atletico)February 12, 2026

Irregular retrospect grounds coach’s departure in Belo Horizonte

Jorge Sampaoli’s second spell as coach of Galo was marked by constant oscillation and the difficulty in repeating the success of 2020. The coach took over in September 2025 to replace Cuca, but was unable to imprint the playing philosophy that established him previously. Last year, the team reached the final of the Copa Sul-Americana, but the defeat on penalties to the Lanús caused wear and tear that carried over into the current season.

The total numbers from this last spell reveal the fragility of the collective performance under the Argentine’s baton. In 34 official matches, Sampaoli obtained only ten wins, adding 16 draws and eight defeats, which represents a much lower performance than expected for the investment made in the squad. The board hoped that the beginning of 2026 would mark a recovery, but the record of excessive draws undermined the confidence of directors and fans.

Critical situation in the Minas Gerais championship and pressure on the mrv arena

The recent draw against Remo was the trigger for a crisis that was already brewing behind the scenes at Cidade and Galo. Jogando at home, Atlético demonstrated structural flaws that allowed the opponent to score three goals, highlighting the disorganization of the defensive system. The Este result kept the team in a delicate situation in the Campeonato Mineiro table, where the team no longer depends solely on its own strengths to continue in the competition.

The fans expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of experienced players, such as midfielder Gustavo Scarpa, who currently occupies the bench. The athlete has avoided public controversy, but the climate of general dissatisfaction with Sampaoli’s tactical choices has become unsustainable. The transition to the command of Lucas Gonçalves aims to stem the immediate crisis while the board evaluates profiles of coaches who have in-depth knowledge of Brazilian and South American football.

Statistical comparison between the Argentine’s two passages

• First pass (2020): 45 matches, 26 wins, 9 draws and 10 losses, with Minas Gerais title.
• Second spell (2025-2026): 34 matches, 10 wins, 16 draws and 8 losses.
• Performance in 2026: 10 games, 2 wins, 7 draws and 1 defeat, with low performance.

The drop in performance between the two periods is clear when we analyze the average points scored per match. In 2020, Sampaoli’s offensive style guaranteed impressive results and the state title, delighting fans with an aggressive stance on the field. Já in 2026, the team seemed frozen and incapable of transforming ball possession into real scoring chances, suffering from counterattacks even against theoretically more technically limited opponents.

Immediate challenges for the management of black and white football

The departure of Jorge Sampaoli forces Atlético to act quickly in the transfer market for technical professionals. The club is looking for a profile that can extract the best from the reinforcements hired for 2026 and that can pacify the dressing room before the start of the decisive phases of the season. The priority is to find a coach who can balance the defensive sector without giving up the purposeful characteristic that the fans demand in games at Arena MRV.

Lucas Gonçalves will have the mission of leading the final training for the duel against Itabirito, focusing on motivating the athletes to finish the first phase. The internal expectation is that the change of command will generate a new positive fact, capable of boosting the individual performance of players who had been performing below their potential. The board does not rule out announcing a new name at the beginning of next week to start planning the next rounds of the Campeonato Brasileiro and continental competitions.

Cast planning and focus on technical recovery

The planning for the remainder of the season should undergo important adjustments with the arrival of a new technical command in the coming days. Jogadores who were out of space with Sampaoli must receive new opportunities to prove that they can be useful to Galo’s sports project. The football leadership understands that the current squad has enough quality to be among the top placed, attributing the bad phase exclusively to the previous tactical management.

Hiring made for 2026 remains under evaluation, and the new technical committee will have the autonomy to request specific reinforcements if it identifies needs in the group. The central objective is to prevent the club from losing contact with the top squad of Campeonato Brasileiro, where the loss of initial points already worries managers. The restructuring involves an in-depth diagnosis of the reasons that led to the high number of draws and the loss of points in clashes considered accessible by performance analysis.

Impact of the administrative decision on the routine of the city of Galo

The dismissal of an internationally renowned coach like Sampaoli always has a significant impact on the day-to-day running of the training center. Funcionários and members of the fixed technical committee were informed of the decision shortly after the end of the meeting that sealed the Argentine’s fate. The atmosphere at Cidade of Galo is one of seriousness and total focus on Saturday’s match, aiming to minimize the losses of a possible early elimination in the state.

The board reinforced its commitment to professionalism and the incessant search for titles, justifying that the change was necessary to preserve the chances of success in the year. The end of the Sampaoli cycle closes a chapter of great expectation, but which unfortunately did not deliver the sporting results consistent with the club’s history. Agora, the focus is entirely on the technical transition and the unconditional support to assist Lucas Gonçalves in the final round.

Expected tactical consequences of the change of command

The tendency is for Atlético to abandon some of the positional rigidities imposed by Jorge Sampaoli to adopt a more direct style of play. Analistas of football believe that individual freedom can favor names like Gustavo Scarpa and other creative midfielders who felt limited by the previous system. Protection in front of the area must also be reinforced, aiming to reduce the number of goals conceded, which was a chronic problem in the team’s last games.

Lucas Gonçalves’s interim work must focus on simplicity and basic organization, avoiding tactical inventions that could confuse athletes in a moment of high pressure. The players’ response on the field will be fundamental in defining the pace of negotiations with candidates for the position of permanent coach. The board monitors names available both in the Brazilian market and abroad, prioritizing professionals who already have experience in managing high-investment squads.

Analysis of the competitive scenario for the remainder of the semester

With elimination knocking at the door in the state, Atlético needs a reality check to avoid compromising the first semester calendar. Absence in the final stages of Mineiro would be a considerable financial and moral blow, increasing pressure on the new technical management from the first day of work. Therefore, the match against Itabirito takes on the shape of a championship final for the black and white club.

The season continues with challenges in the Campeonato Brasileiro and in the series of international tournaments that the Galo competes in. Institutional stability is seen as the necessary foundation for results to appear consistently again. The departure of Sampaoli is seen as the first step in this reconstruction, aiming to return to Atlético the status of a real candidate for all the trophies it will compete for until the end of December 2026.

Considerations on the profile of the new technical commander

The search for a replacement for Sampaoli involves strict criteria established by the Galo football department. Deseja is a professional with strong leadership, capable of uniting the group and implementing a game model that is balanced between attack and defense. Experience in dealing with big stars and the ability to adapt to the characteristics of national football are fundamental requirements for the new chosen one.

Several names are already circulating behind the scenes in the sports press, but the board maintains secrecy to avoid speculation that could disrupt the work environment. The official announcement will only take place after the signing of the contract, guaranteeing legal and sporting security for the club. Enquanto That said, the focus remains on the physical and technical preparation of the players for Saturday’s commitment, which will define the immediate direction of Atlético Minas Gerais in the 2026 season.

The termination of the relationship with the Argentine coach ends a phase of uncertainty and opens space for a new philosophy at Cidade of Galo. The board hopes that, with the change, the team will regain the confidence necessary to win and convince its fans. The commitment to sporting excellence continues to be the main guideline of the black and white management, who will spare no effort to put the club back on the path to great national and international achievements.