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Features
He won the Premier League with Chelsea, now he’s set to lock horns with Enzo Maresca at the Club World Cup
It’s always a special occasion when the footballing gods bring together two clubs in competition that allows for cult heroes to have a reunion with their former employers.
This is set to happen with Chelsea next year, thanks to Thursday’s draw for the revamped 32-team FIFA Club World Cup.
The Blues have been drawn against Brazilian giants Flamengo, Mexican outfit Club Leon and Tunisian side Esperance Sportive de Tunis in Group D.
Chelsea are set to go up against a manager in the Club World Cup who won the Premier League title with them as a player.
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Flamengo head coach Filipe Luis set to renew acquaintances with Chelsea
The individual in question is Filipe Luis, who played for Chelsea in the 2014-15 season and lifted a Premier League title and a League Cup whilst at Stamford Bridge.
Luis joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in July 2014 for a £15.8million fee, and his role under Jose Mourinho was largely that of back-up to Cesar Azpilicueta.
This didn’t bother him initially, as he told the in September 2014: “When you work with Mourinho, you have to know that the group, the collective is above the individual.”
Luis ultimately made 26 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, registering one goal and one assist.
How many trophies Filipe Luis has won in his career
In the end, a lack of game time saw the defender return to Atletico Madrid, where he cemented his credentials as a Metropolitano legend.
Luis enjoyed a superb playing career as he won trophies with Chelsea, Atletico, Flamengo and Brazil.
At Stamford Bridge, he lifted the 2014/15 Premier League and League Cup title, while at Atletico, he won a Liga title, two Europa Leagues, a Copa del Rey and two UEFA Supercups.
Luis also lifted two Copa Libertadores, a Recopa Sudamericana, two Brazilian titles, one Brazilian Cup and two Brazilian Supercups as a Flamengo player.
And at international level, Luis lifted a Copa America and a Confederations Cup with Brazil, with whom he won 44 caps.
And though the former Chelsea man only just started his coaching career, he already has two trophies to his name.
The 39-year-old took the Flamengo reins in September and lifted the Copa do Brasil – Brazil’s equivalent of the FA Cup – in November.
Luis took charge of Flamengo’s Under-17s in January before moving up to the Under-20s, with whom he won the U20 Intercontinental Cup in August.
In addition, there’s a possibility Chelsea will also renew acquaintances with David Luiz, who is still playing for Flamengo, though his contract expires at the end of 2024.
The FIFA Club World Cup will take place in the United States between 15 June and 13 July 2025.