AAnother brutal KO for Brazil at the World Cup means the search for a new coach continues. Rather than wait to be sacked by the Brazilian federation (CBF), Tite tendered his resignation just minutes after Brazil’s quarter-final defeat by Croatia on penalties.
He had reservations about taking over from Dunga in the middle of a “cycle” in 2016, when Brazil struggled in qualifying and were in serious danger of missing the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Tite was praised for reversing the team’s fate and sparing them the embarrassment of either not qualifying or going through the playoffs for the first time in their history, and he was even tempered somewhat when they lost to Belgium in the quarter-finals Kazan.
This time, however, there could be no excuses. The ex-Corinthians manager had the full cycle he wished for, with home victory in the Copa America in 2019 – Brazil’s first major title in 12 years – buying him more time. By the time Brazil were beaten by Argentina in the Maracanã in the 2021 Copa America final, Tite’s job was already secure.
CBF President Antônio Carlos Nunes had said so publicly after reports that then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro wanted to sack him over a mutiny when players threatened to boycott the 2021 tournament because it was in their Covid-19 was discharged. devastated country.
Brazil bounced back from losing to Argentina, took first place in the South American qualifying table and went to Qatar, the best team in the world, as one of the favourites. They had a squad full of talent, with Neymar in top form for Paris Saint-Germain, but Brazil’s talisman picked up an injury in the opening game against Serbia and they struggled to replace him in the next two group games, losing to Cameroon.
Neymar returned for his 4-1 win over South Korea in the round of 16 but that proved a false dawn. Brazil came back to earth in the quarter-finals, becoming the latest victim of a Croatian World Cup comeback when they lost on penalties despite the PSG striker putting them ahead in extra time.
Tite said in his farewell interview that he was unable to “evaluate all the work done”. He told the traveling reporters, “In time, you will make that assessment.” They didn’t need time as within hours of the Croatia defeat a series of scathing articles were published, tearing his job as a coach to pieces.
Tite’s stats are impressive – in 81 games in charge he recorded 60 wins, 15 draws and just six defeats – but three of those defeats have come at major tournaments and the back-to-back quarter-final defeats at World Cups have been cited by the majority of fans and reporters conclude that little progress has been made. Sixth world title Hexa feels further away than ever.
The hard facts are that since winning the 2002 World Cup, Brazil have failed in four out of five editions in the quarter-finals or as soon as they met an elite European opponent. France 2006, the Netherlands 2010, Belgium 2018 – and when they reached the semifinals in 2014, they were humiliated by Germany.
It has sparked debate about whether it’s time to finally do the unthinkable and appoint a foreign coach after Tite’s failure with a more European positional play. Historians will point out that Brazil has been here before, but these were only brief appointments.
Ramón Platero of Uruguay officiated four games in 1925; Portuguese Joreca managed the team in two friendlies against Uruguay in the 1940s; and Agentina’s Filpo Núñez was only responsible for one exhibition game to open Mineirão Stadium in 1965.
Brazil has not appointed a foreign coach for more than 50 years and it has never looked to anyone not born in Pais de Futebol to lead it at a World Cup. That may now have to change and reports from Brazil suggest both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti have been approached about the role ahead of the World Cup.
Guardiola apparently showed no interest and closed the door by extending his contract with Manchester City until 2025. But Ancelotti, the current Real Madrid manager, was apparently open to negotiations when he was first consulted in October, depending on the nature of the project and the timing of the vacancy. Ancelotti may have held off ahead of the tournament out of respect for Tite, with whom he has a good working relationship.
Tite spent a week watching Italian leaders Real Madrid on their famous sabbatical in 2014 before taking over at Corinthians and guiding them to an impressive title win the following year. The two coaches have also regularly discussed the development of the young Brazilian players in the Real Madrid squad. Ancelotti’s excellent leadership skills and successes with Brazilians such as Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Casemiro speak strongly for him. And you can imagine Don Carlo smoking a cigar on Copacabana beach.
Carlo Ancelotti and Vinícius Júnior won the Champions League together this year. Photo: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
Guardiola has been linked with the job intermittently for a decade. When asked about an approach in 2015, he said the side “need to be coached by a Brazilian,” a sentiment the old guard would agree with. On social media and in interviews, members of the 2002 squad like Rivaldo and Cafu have even toyed with the idea of outsourcing the managerial job.
“It’s a lack of respect for Brazilian coaches to hire a foreign coach for our national team,” said Rivaldo. “We have coaches who are able to take over the Brazilian team and do a good job. Foreigners are undoubtedly very good coaches too, but the Seleção is ours and must be led by someone with Brazilian blood in their veins.”
Given the way Rivaldo and other Brazilians clashed with Louis van Gaal in Barcelona in the 1990s in what they saw as a cultural attack on their playing style, his comments shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. “Van Gaal is the Hitler of Brazilian players; he’s arrogant, proud and has a problem,” Giovanni once said.
“Why not give a young Brazilian coach a chance?” asked Cafu. “We have four years to form a team. Give the squad to a young coach, give him rest and I’m sure Brazil will put together a great team.” Such remarks immediately point to Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz, who has also been supported by Ronaldo and Neymar.
Brazilian football journalist Leonardo Bertozzi is not so sure, pointing out that Diniz “divides opinions” in Brazil: “They praise the courageous style of their teams, but they also blame that style for the lack of important results. By stimulating his players’ creativity on the field and valuing the game with the ball, he has had many defenders among the top players.”
Bertozzi suggests that Brazilian coaches and former players reject foreigners so they can ‘reserve the market’ and he points out that Ancelotti has had success with players of different nationalities, including Brazilians. “He was the one who managed the best Kaká at Milan, who developed Vinícius’ potential at Real Madrid. If he’s interested in leading Brazil, he’ll be a strong name.”
When asked about the job this week, Ancelotti admitted that while he lives “day to day” he intends to stay in Spain. “I’m happy in Madrid,” he said. “We have set ourselves many goals for this season. I have a contract until June 30, 2024 and if Real Madrid don’t fire me by then I won’t move.”
Mauro Cezar, one of Brazil’s most prominent football experts, believes it’s time for change. “Brazil needs a coach from abroad because the country’s coaches are absolutely outdated,” he says. “Names like Ancelotti and Guardiola are impossible or pure speculation by the press, they’re silly to think about. It is better to aim for someone who has national team experience – a job that is different from what is done at clubs – who is really approachable, a professional who sees such an opportunity as a great opportunity.”
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira – a young Portuguese coach familiar with Brazil and its culture – could hit the mark. Having won every trophy offered in South America in recent years, including two Copa Libertadores titles, he is currently Brazil’s most successful coach. But his testy relationship with the Brazilian press and his alleged reluctance to give up Palmeiras lead many to believe he’s a non-starter too.
Bertozzi believes Ferreira has many qualities – “he’s victorious, able to adapt strategies depending on the game and has the knowledge of Brazilian football that many require” but also sees a major problem. “Abel would be a good choice for the reasons above, but European coaches see national team football differently than those in Brazilian football. For a Brazilian, managing the national team is the pinnacle of a career – not least because they don’t have a big market in other countries’ leagues.”
No matter what happens, someone will be unhappy in a polarized country where football is one of the three topics that should not be discussed to avoid conflict, along with religion and politics.
Tom Sanderson is on Twitter
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