The Gossip

Dorival Junior has been appointed as the head coach of Brazil, as announced by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

Dorival Junior has been officially named as the head coach of the Brazilian national men’s football team by the Brazil Football Confederation (CBF). Following the departure of interim coach Fernando Diniz, Dorival will assume the coaching role amidst a turbulent period for Brazil. The CBF announced that Dorival Junior will be introduced to the media at a press conference held at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

Dorival assumes the coaching position during a chaotic phase for Brazil, which was initiated by their elimination from the 2022 World Cup in a penalty shootout against Croatia. This defeat led to the removal of coach Tite. Subsequently, the Under-20 coach, Ramon Menezes, briefly took charge of the team before Diniz was appointed as an interim coach last year. However, Diniz’s tenure came to an abrupt end on Friday, coinciding with the reinstatement of Ednaldo Rodrigues as the head of the CBF. Rodrigues had previously been dismissed in December by the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice.

Initially, Rodrigues had set his sights on hiring Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti. However, his plans took a turn when Ancelotti decided to extend his contract with Real Madrid. As a result, Dorival emerged as the leading contender for the coaching position.

Dorival, who achieved fame for leading Flamengo to triumph in the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Cup in 2022 prior to his tenure at Sao Paulo, possesses a vast coaching experience with renowned clubs such as Atletico Mineiro, Athletico Paranaense, Internacional, Vasco da Gama, Fluminense, and Palmeiras.

With Brazil currently occupying the sixth position in the South American World Cup qualifying standings, having secured victory in only two out of their six matches and endured three defeats, Dorival confronts the formidable mission of rejuvenating the team’s performance.