Who is Dorival Júnior, Brazil national team new coach?

The new Brazil national football team coach has been confirmed, with only an official announcement from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) pending. Dorival Júnior, the 61-year-old manager leaving São Paulo, is the new coach of the Canarinha, taking over from Fernando Diniz, who was dismissed last Friday. This appointment comes after Carlo Ancelotti, the preferred choice of Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF, recently renewed his contract with Real Madrid until 2026.

Without Ancelotti, Dorival Júnior takes Brazil job

São Paulo itself announced Dorival Júnior’s departure to take up the Brazil national team coaching role through its social media channels. “São Paulo Football Club announces the departure of coach Dorival Júnior, who has requested to resign in order to take charge of the Brazilian national team,” the club stated in a post.

“This is the realization of a personal dream, only made possible because I received recognition for the work done at São Paulo. For this reason, I must thank them for being part of this important period of reconstruction, competently led by the presidency and the board of directors. With the investment in infrastructure and planning over the past years, the club is ready to welcome the most qualified professionals in the market. I also want to thank the fans for all their affection and support,” declared Dorival, in a statement released by São Paulo.

Julio Casares, President of São Paulo, also had some words to share.

“The invitation extended to Dorival is further proof that we are on the right path. In 2021, the CBF had already approached Muricy Ramalho, who will remain at São Paulo until the end of my administration. Now it’s Dorival’s turn, who had a proposal to readjust and extend his contract with São Paulo until the end of my term in 2026, with all the guarantees of stability. All that’s left is to wish him the best of luck in his new challenge.”

Who is Dorival?

Dorival, a highly respected coach in Brazil, boasts an extensive career as a manager that began in 2002 and has led him to coach some of Brazil’s top teams, such as Cruzeiro, Santos, Vasco da Gama, Internacional, Atlético Mineiro, Flamengo, Fluminense, Palmeiras, Athletico Paranaense, and São Paulo. His latest stint at São Paulo, which he had previously managed in 2017 and 2018, began last April when he replaced Rogério Ceni and he leaves the team after winning the Copa do Brasil.

The pinnacle of Dorival’s coaching career came in 2022 when he led Flamengo to win the Copa Libertadores. A Recopa Sudamericana champion with Internacional in 2011, he won Serie B with Vasco in 2009 and the Copa do Brasil with Santos in 2010 and Flamengo in 2022.