Leonardo Jardim: why Monaco's coach is hot property

Monaco have rampaged to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and their electric young team continue to challenge Paris for the French title – despite a considerable disparity in budgets. Credit due then to boss Leonardo Jardim, who – at 42 – is one of Europe's most exciting coaches.

The evidence
• Finished third with Braga (2011/12) and second with young Sporting CP side (2013/14) in Portuguese Liga
• Hired by Olympiacos in 2012/13, he left after six months with his team unbeaten and ten points clear at league summit
• Has taken youthful Monaco to top of Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions league semi-finals

• How does Mbappé compare to Messi, Raúl and Ronaldo?
• Poll: Best player never to have won the Champions League?

The expert testimony
"He's a very intelligent coach who reads games very well. He's also very good at reading players and understanding what they need. Those man-management skills have served him very well with this squad. He's got some very young players who still have some maturing to do, and he's patient and relaxed enough to teach them. That's played a major role in the team's performances and is one of the reasons why we are where we are in the league."
Radamel Falcao, Monaco forward

"He's always been ready to help. There have been certain moments where we weren't in agreement, but he's a coach that has stuck by me and helped me progress a lot tactically."
Tiemoué Bakayoko, Monaco midfielder

Leonardo Jardim making his name at Braga©Getty Images

The back story
Like countrymen José Mourinho and André Villas-Boas, Venezuelan-born Jardim never played at any significant level. After studying physical education, he coached children, a women's team and a handball selection on his way up.

First in sole senior command at Madeira-based Camacha and Chaves, he won promotion to the Liga with Beira-Mar and then took Braga to an impressive third-placed finish in 2011/12. Following a spell in Greece, he returned to Portugal to make the best of a young Sporting side. Questions were asked of Monaco's ambition to challenge Paris for the title when the 'unknown' Jardim arrived as coach in 2014, but his team's verve has silenced critics. TV pundits still mock the way he speaks French with a Portuguese accent, but his leadership is no joke.

Jardim put the accent on youth at Sporting©AFP/Getty Images

The method
Skills and freedom are central to his approach. Under Jardim, even fitness sessions are done with the ball, while team spirit is another key ingredient (he showed his Chaves side classical-themed action movie 300 to give them an ideal to aim for).

He has an eye for potential, notably converting Fabinho from full-back to midfielder this term ("it's been working for me and for the team," said the Brazilian), and he loves to give youngsters a chance, Kylian Mbappé currently sparkling up front alongside Radamel Falcao. "I like to move more on the pitch and the coach gives me the freedom to do that – on the right, the left, in the centre," the teenager told UEFA.com.

The take-home quotes
"I have always believed in working on fitness, tactics and technique together. You cannot separate those things; you should work on all three at the same time."

"I am so focused on Monaco that I do not even think about the future. I have two years of contract and I feel good. I do not know if I'm going to end up being the [Sir Alex] Ferguson of Monaco."

"It does not matter who we play against: Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham, Manchester City, whoever. It is in our DNA to play the way we play."