January 8 – No Carlo Ancelotti and now no more Fernando Diniz. Brazil and their returning president Ednaldo Rodrigues have dismissed their interim manager after a run of poor results.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement that Rodrigues informed Diniz (pictured), who split his duties between Fluminense and Brazil, that he wanted to “advance the process of choice of a permanent coach.”
“The CBF thanks Fernando Diniz for his work, his dedication, his seriousness and for the challenge of revamping Brazil,” the statement said.
Dorival Jr meanwhile has announced on X that he has left his role as coach of Brazilian side Sao Paulo and is set to take charge of the country’s national team. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is yet to confirm his appointment.
After the World Cup, Diniz stepped in to succeed Tite on an interim basis as the CBF and Rodrigues sought to appoint Ancelotti this year, but the Italian recently extended his contract at Real Madrid ruling out a switch to Brazil’s national team. Brazil have never had a foreign manager.
Diniz oversaw his country’s worst start to a World Cup qualifying campaign in recent history and after six matches Brazil are sixth in the table, eight points behind leader Argentina.
The decision to remove Diniz was taken by Rodrigues one day after being reinstated in his role as president of the CBF by Brazilian Supreme Court justice Gilmar Mendez, who said that the country was risking sanction by FIFA if it meddled in federation politics. A Rio court had removed him from his role in December.
Mendez was concerned about Brazil being ruled out of Olympic qualification as well as the impact on the country’s bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Brazil will play England and Spain in friendlies in March before embarking on Copa America duty in the summer in the United States. In September, the World Cup qualifiers resume. The five-time world champions are the only nation to have qualified for every single World Cup.
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