Luís Carlos Batalha Freire (born 3 November 1985) is a Portuguese professional football manager.

Beginning as a manager in amateur football in his 20s, he won six promotions in his first eight seasons, including as champions of the Campeonato de Portugal with Mafra in 2018.

[3] The day after getting Mafra into LigaPro, Freire left for G.D. Estoril Praia of that league, with the aim of reaching the top flight.

[4] On 29 July 2018, in his first match in professional football, his side beat Farense 2–0 away to reach the group stage of the Taça da Liga;[5] on his league debut on 11 August the team won 4–0 at home to FC Porto B.

[15] On 28 August, his team won 3–1 at home to reigning champions FC Porto for a first league victory,[16] though on 16 October they were knocked out of the third round of the Taça de Portugal 3–2 at third-tier F.C.

[17] On 25 December 2023, Rio Ave's sporting director Nuno de Almeida announced that Freire would leave the club at the end of the 2023–24 season.