Phillipe Coutinho announced that he is leaving his boyhood club Vasco da Gama because he is «mentally tired» and his «cycle at the club has ended».
The former Brazil and Liverpool midfielder makes a long, emotional statement Instagramsaid he is leaving Vasco because it is “time to step back.”
The 33-year-old was substituted at half-time after being booed by fans during Vasco’s penalty shootout win over Volta Redonda last week.
«I would never disrespect the fans, my teammates or Vasco. I have never done that, wherever I have been. Those who know me know that,» he said. “At that moment, on the way to the dressing room, I felt and realized that my cycle at the club had ended and that I was not coming back to prioritize my mental health.
“It hurts a lot. The truth is that I am very tired mentally. With a heavy heart, I understand that this is the time to take a step back and end this cycle at Vasco. “I am grateful for everything I have learned here. I will take Vasco with me forever. In the chest. In history. In life.”
Coutinho has scored 17 goals in 81 appearances for Vasco since taking over for the second time in 2024. He started his career at Vasco before joining Inter Milan and later moving to Liverpool in 2013.
He scored 54 goals in 201 appearances for the Reds before joining Barcelona in 2018, and later had spells at Bayern Munich, Aston Villa and Al-Duhail before returning to Vasco.
«Wearing this shirt was one of the most important choices I ever made. And in every training session, in every match, I did my best. Always!»
Published on February 19, 2026
