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The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has officially appointed Dorival Junior as the new head coach. The announcement, confirmed by the CBF on Wednesday, follows a string of disappointing results that led to the dismissal of former interim coach Fernando Diniz.
Dorival, whose appointment was initially revealed by his former club, Sao Paulo, on Sunday, will be formally introduced at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, according to a statement released by the confederation.
While the CBF did not disclose the length of Dorival's contract, Brazilian media reports suggest it is expected to extend through the 2026 World Cup.
The 61-year-old veteran manager stepped into the role after Diniz's tenure ended with a series of setbacks in World Cup qualifiers, including a notable 1-0 loss to arch-rival Argentina in November. Fans are now placing their hopes on Dorival to rekindle the magic Brazil has struggled to replicate since their last World Cup triumph in 2002.
Dorival brings a wealth of experience to the position, having guided Sao Paulo to the Copa do Brasil title in the previous year. Additionally, he led Flamengo to victory in the 2022 Copa do Brasil and Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the UEFA Champions League.
The new coach faces a challenging start to his tenure, with Brazil currently placed sixth in South America's 2026 World Cup qualifiers, occupying the last automatic qualifying spot from the continent. The team has grappled with injuries, most notably the sidelining of star player Neymar, who suffered a torn knee ligament in a 2-0 loss to Uruguay in October.
Dorival's debut at the helm is scheduled for March when Brazil will face England and Spain in a pair of friendly matches. The matches will serve as an early test for the seasoned coach as he seeks to steer the team back on course for success.
The appointment comes amid a tumultuous period in Brazilian football, with the CBF entangled in a legal dispute over its leadership. President Ednaldo Rodrigues was ousted from his position by a court ruling in December, only to be reinstated by a Supreme Court judge last week.
The interim chaos also affected the attempted hiring of Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, whose contract renewal with the Spanish giants led to a breakdown in negotiations with the CBF.