Brazil Head Coad Drovial Sacked Over Argentina Humiliation
Brazil national team head coach Drovial Junior has been fired after 14 months in charge. The Brazilian Football Confederation took the decision following the team’s humiliating World Cup qualifying loss in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. The 62-year-old was appointed as the head coach in January 2024.
“The Brazilian Football Confederation informs that coach Dorival Jr is no longer in charge of the Brazilian national team,” the confederation said in a statement. “The management thanks [Dorival] and wishes him success in continuing his career … the CBF will work to find his replacement.”
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Under the 62-year-old, Brazil had won seven matches, drawn another seven, and lost two. The team had scored 25 goals and conceded 17. Junior’s replacement has yet to be picked.
Brazil has been in the midst of their worst-ever World Cup qualifying campaign. They are fourth in the South America standings with 21 points, a point above sixth-placed Colombia, who currently occupy the final direct qualifying berth.
In the Copa America last year, Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Uruguay on penalties.
Rodrigues was re-elected on Monday to head the confederation until 2030. In 2023, he bet on Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to take over one year later. While waiting for Ancelotti, Brazil had under-20 coach Ramon Menezes as an interim, then hired Fernando Diniz. Diniz was fired in January 2024 after two wins, one draw, and three losses on the job, and Ancelotti extended his contract in Spain.
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So far, the last time Brazil had three coaches between World Cups was before its latest title in 2002. Luiz Felipe Scolari took the job one year before the tournament in Japan and South Korea. As per local media reports, BFC might take one more approach to Ancelotti, and apart from him, Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is also being considered.
