SPORTS
BRAZIL WANT MANO MENEZES TO BE NEW TEAM MANAGER
Baku, July 24 (AZERTAC). Brazil have offered Corinthians boss Mano Menezes the job of national team manager after Fluminense refused to release their coach Muricy Ramalho.
Ramalho was first choice but Fluminense want him to fulfill his contract with them, which runs until the end of 2012.
Menezes has led Corinthians, and before them Gremio, out of Brazil`s Second Division in recent years.
Brazil are searching for a new coach following Dunga`s sacking after their quarter-final exit at the World Cup.
Menezes, 48, will announce his decision at a news conference in Sao Paulo on Saturday.
A statement on the Brazilian Football Confederation`s (CBF) website said: “Mano Menezes was one of a shortlist of three coaches and had his name ratified after a conversation with (CBF president) Ricardo Teixeira, when he showed himself to be in tune with the rebuilding project drawn up by the CBF for the 2014 World Cup.”
The other man on the shortlist was believed to be former Brazil, Portugal and Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari while another former Brazil coach Wanderley Luxemburgo and ex-AC Milan coach Leonardo had also been linked with the job.
Dunga and his staff were axed after Brazil lost 2-1 to the Netherlands.
Brazil will host the World Cup in 2014, the first time they have held the tournament since 1950.