Sport | Football
Menezes named new Brazil football coach
Ramalho rejects offer due to club contract
- Reuters
- Published: 00:00 July 25, 2010
- Image Credit: AFP
- Mano Menezes
Rio De Janeiro: Mano Menezes, a specialist in leading big clubs out of the doldrums but little-known outside his own country, became the coach of Brazil yesterday when he accepted an offer from the five-time world champions.
The 48-year-old, currently coach of Corinthians, confirmed he had said yes to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), which had been turned down by Muricy Ramalho the day before after his club refused to release him.
"For the whole of Brazil, I say that I officially accept the invitation," Menezes told a news conference. "I have agreed with satisfaction and pride to coach the national team."
Menezes was offered the coach's job on Friday shortly after Ramalho's club Fluminense refused to release him.
Menezes, who has lifted two of the country's most popular clubs out of the doldrums, will have the huge task of trying to rebuild Brazil's national team and win a sixth world title when they host the 2014 World Cup.
Winning their own World Cup is seen as an obligation by Brazil's 190 million inhabitants.
Tough job
The job, one of the toughest in international soccer, has been vacant since Dunga quit following the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Netherlands three weeks ago.
Ramalho, who has considerable domestic success but like Menezes is little known outside Brazil, sat down for talks on Friday with Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira, who praised the gruff 54-year-old's track record.
But hours later, Fluminense said that they wanted Ramalho to see out his contract, which runs until 2012.
"Muricy is going to continue at Fluminense, fulfilling his contractual commitments," club president Roberto Horcades told reporters.
Menezes, 48, made his name in 2005 when he led former South American champions Gremio out of the second division.
In an extraordinary decisive game, Gremio had four players sent off, survived a penalty miss by opponents Nautico and then snatched a goal to win 1-0 and clinch promotion.
Two years later, he took them to the final of the Libertadores Cup, the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
Unprecedented move
The following year he led Corinthians, another hugely popular team, out of the second division.
Former Brazil, Portugal and Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, currently with Brazilian side Palmeiras, was believed to be the other coach on the shortlist.
Fluminense's move is almost unprecedented as Brazilian clubs are usually happy to oblige if their coach is picked for the national team.
Ramalho took over at Fluminense in April and on Thursday night his side beat Cruzeiro 1-0 to go top of the Brazilian championship. Club president Horcades praised Ramalho for not leaving.
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