You’ve made it to the Australian edition of ESPN. Keep the existing version or upgrade to the US version.
Dorival Junior has been named Brazil coach, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Wednesday.
The 61-year-old confirmed on Sunday his decision to leave Sao Paulo and take charge of Brazil after the CBF sacked interim coach Fernando Diniz on Friday.
“Dorival Junior is the new coach of the men’s national team. It will be on Thursday at a press conference at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro,” the CBF said in a statement.
Dorival arrives after turbulence following Brazil’s elimination from the 2022 World Cup following a penalty shootout loss to Croatia, which led to the sacking of coach Tite.
Brazil was led by U-20 coach Ramon Menezes before Diniz was appointed on an interim basis last year. Diniz was fired on Friday, a day after Ednaldo Rodrigues was reinstated as director of the CBF following his dismissal in early December by the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice. .
Rodrigues’ intention was to hire Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, but after negotiations failed and he opted to extend his contract with Real Madrid, Dorival was the main candidate.
Dorival led Flamengo to the Copa Libertadores title and the Brazilian Cup in 2022 before joining Sao Paulo. He has also coached Atletico Mineiro, Athletico Paranaense, Internacional, Vasco da Gama, Fluminense and Palmeiras.
Brazil is in sixth place in South America’s World Cup qualification after winning two of its six matches and suffering 3 defeats.
Dorival’s task in qualifying is further complicated by the absence of Brazilian star Neymar, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee in his country’s World Cup qualifying loss to Uruguay on Oct. 17.
In December, Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar showed that Neymar would also not be available for this summer’s Copa America in the United States.
Information from Reuters was used in this story.