Mano Menezes has been confirmed as the new Brazil coach, the Confederation of Brazilian Football have announced.
Corinthians boss Menezes was invited to coach the five-time FIFA World Cup™ champions yesterday after Muricy Ramalho was unable to accept an approach by the CBF due to his commitments at Fluminense.
And the confederation confirmed this afternoon that Menezes had agreed to steer Brazil in the World Cup in 2014 on home soil. A statement on the CBF website read: "Mano Menezes is the new coach of the Brazil national team.
"The professional, by accepting the invitation of president Ricardo Teixeira made in the conversation that happened last night, will have the opportunity to register his name in the history of great winners if they achieve the feat that successive generations will not be able to witness: being six-time World Cup champions in Brazil.
"I am sure that he will accomplish great work by 2014. The Brazil national team, as the new coach said to me, will again have a significant presence of players who play for Brazilian clubs." - Ricardo Teixeira on the new coach of Brazil
"President Ricardo Teixeira was satisfied with the way the conversation went, with the courage and the willingness shown by Mano Menezes to take on the great challenge, and with his commitment to carry out the changes the squad needs to succeed in the World Cup 2014.
"Even more important, according to Ricardo Teixeira, was the desire shown by Mano Menezes in arming the Brazil national team with a competitive style but which also has the "face" of Brazilian football, which can be translated by a lively football and marked by talent which the fans and members of the media are dreaming to see again."
Menezes will be unveiled on Monday at 4pm local time at a press conference and will also reveal the squad for his first game in charge - a friendly against the United States on 10 August. The 48-year-old replaces Dunga, whose contract was not renewed following Brazil's disappointing World Cup campaign.
Their hopes of a sixth triumph ended at the quarter-final stage in South Africa as they let slip a 1-0 lead to suffer a shock 2-1 loss to eventual runners-up Holland. Rebuilding for the next World Cup is the incoming coach's primary responsibility and Teixeira believes in Menezes they have the right man for the job.
The CBF chief said: "He showed courage and also pride to have the opportunity that every coach in the world dreams of, which is to steer the Brazil national team. I am sure that he will accomplish great work by 2014. The Brazil national team, as the new coach said to me, will again have a significant presence of players who play for Brazilian clubs. Mano Menezes, undeniably, is the coach with the ability to conduct this process."
Menezes shot to prominence in 2005 by guiding Gremio into the Brazilian top flight before leading them to the final of the Copa Libertadores two years later. He took charge at Corinthians in late 2007, taking the club to promotion from Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B before winning the Campeonato Paulista and Copa do Brasil last year.
And the confederation confirmed this afternoon that Menezes had agreed to steer Brazil in the World Cup in 2014 on home soil. A statement on the CBF website read: "Mano Menezes is the new coach of the Brazil national team.
