Brazil and the replacement of Tite: the opportunity for two top coaches who would mark the history of the national team

Tite was clear: Qatar 2022 would mark the end of his career as coach of the Brazilian national team. And that end came last Friday, after being eliminated on penalties Croatianext rival of Argentina national team. “Painful defeat, but I’m at peace with myself. End of the cycle”, the 61-year-old coach said immediately after that meeting.

The ‘Scratch Card’ came with candidate plaque, backed in a sustained process despite some hard knocks and with a full squad of elite footballers, but fell again in the quarter-finals (Belgium were their executioner in Russia 2018 ). For this reason, the coach has decided not to renew the contract which expired on 31 December.

In this context the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is already starting work on behalf of his replacement and there is two who stand out for their huge journey and their present in the most important clubs in the world: the Spaniards Pep Guardiola and Italian Carlo Ancelotti, ​quadruple champion of the UEFA Champions League.

Since he took office as CBF president in March of this year, and knowing in advance that Tite would be leaving after the World Cup, ednaldo rodrigues He had Pep’s name in his head and even leaked the contract that they would offer him: a four-year bond, until the 2026 World Cup, in exchange for 12 million euros net.

As the Spanish press reported at the time, there was a first approach with Pere, brother and representative of the Catalan, to try to seduce him with the possibility of leading a great team, not from an economic point of view, given that in Manchester City the amount he receives is far higher. However, his intention to continue in England weighed more and this led him to do so renew his contract until 2025.

And also the historian Ronaldo Nazario He recognized the contacts on his You Tube channel: “There was interest in Guardiola, there were discussions with Guardiola’s technical staff, but he preferred to renew his contract with City.” And I add: “Perhaps it would be difficult for the CBF to come to an agreement, he is the highest paid coach in the world.”

The list, according to the Brazilian press, contains other options such as Jorge Jesus, Dorival Jr, Mano Menezes, Rogerio Ceni, Renato Gaucho, Abel Ferreira, Cuca and Fernando Diniz. In the latter he made particular reference to the ‘Phenomenon’, which he believed could be the “surprise” for the election.

“everyone will be surprised. From this list, the CBF would consider Fernando Diniz. It would be an attraction for the Brazilian team. He is a boy who plays well and puts on a show. Many people might doubt that he didn’t win the title, but I think he’s a good coach. It’s a very important decision for the next cycle, the sooner they present the name and start working on the manager’s philosophy, the better. And we’ll see. I’m curious. I think the big names are coming here,” he said.

Finally, in an interview with the EFE agencyRonaldo stated that he would have no problems with a foreign coach at the helm of the Brazilian national team, who would have broken with history: only once, and it was an Argentine (Philip Nunez), there was officially a DT who was not born in Rio de Janeiro.

Ancelotti, the other name of the CBF

For his part, Charles Ancelotti It is a name that sounds strong in the recent information published by the Brazilian press. The UOL news portal talks about the Italian coach of Real Madrid as “one of the Brazilian Football Confederation’s (CBF) favorite candidates to succeed Tite as Canarinha’s manager.”

​They point out that Carletto “was tested in October”, but which at that time the 63-year-old DT, with enough experience to know how to manage teams with large numbers, set as a condition to “start talking” that the post was vacant. Talks would be reopened. His contract with Merengue expires in June 2024.

The possibility that the CBF decides for a foreign coach “is gaining more and more strength”, however Fernando Dinizcurrently at Fluminense, he looked “one of the best positioned” to take over from Tite, UOL added.

Likewise, Rodrigues and the entire CBF entourage have time to make the final decision and will not rush. Only in March 2023, when the qualifiers for USA-Mexico-Canada 2026They will be the next major commitments and aim there.