Rodrigo Caio turned down an invitation from head coach Filipe Luís to join the coaching staff at Monaco due to a lack of fluency in English, choosing instead to focus on studies and professional training.
Former center-back and assistant coach Rodrigo Caio decided not to accept the offer from manager Filipe Luís to join the coaching staff at French club Monaco. The formal invitation would have represented the former player’s first European opportunity off the pitch.
The decision to turn down the project in European football came due to an off-the-field hurdle. The French club’s CEO, Thiago Scuro, pointed out that the ability to communicate directly in English with the squad was a fundamental requirement for the position.
A multi-champion wearing the Flamengo jersey, where he accumulated three Copa Libertadores titles — two as a player and one on the coaching staff —, the professional decided to prioritize language learning before taking on new challenges in the international market.
The pursuit of fluency and technical preparation
After leaving Flamengo in March, following the departure of his former teammate, Rodrigo Caio acknowledged that he neglected foreign language studies during his time as a professional athlete.
To correct this shortcoming, the professional set up an intensive routine with online classes three times a week, daily assignments, and multimedia content. He revealed that he seeks inspiration from the polyglot profile of renowned coaches, such as Portuguese manager José Mourinho.
Learning the English language has become an essential requirement to continue his career on the coaching staff.
Recently, the former center-back completed his A License coaching certification at the CBF Academy. His final course paper covered the tactical structure of the red-and-black club projected for the 2025 season.
Victorious career in Brazilian football
Despite receiving inquiries to join coaching staffs at Brazilian football clubs, the professional chose to decline the immediate offers to focus on academic and linguistic improvement.
His successful stint in Rio de Janeiro football began in late 2018. In addition to his continental achievements, he added three Brazilian Serie A titles, a Copa do Brasil, as well as Supercopa do Brasil and Recopa Sudamericana trophies to his resume.
Next steps in his career
The temporary refusal of the project in French football demonstrates the long-term planning adopted by Rodrigo Caio in his definitive transition to the administrative and coaching side of the sport.
With the qualification granted by the CBF and his dedication to learning the new language, the expectation is that the professional will be properly prepared to take on coaching staff roles in future opportunities on the international stage.
