Brazil have appointed Sao Paulo manager Dorival Junior as their new national team head coach. Dorival Junior was considered next in line to take over from interim manager Fernando Diniz following Brazil's struggles in 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was also primed by Brazil Football Federation to take over from Fernando Diniz but the Italian and European football veteran snubbed the offer to sign a new contract with Real Madrid.
Brazil then opted to look inwards for a replacement for Diniz with Dorival Junior emerging as a top candidate based on his experience and prolific record in Brazilian football as a manager.
The 61-year-old has been contracted until 2026 to see Brazil through the next World Cup.
Who is Dorival Junior?
Dorival Junior is Brazil professional head coach who has been recently appointed as Brazil national team manager.
Dorival Junior, 61, was born in Araquara, Brazil. He is former Brazil footballer who played for about 13 clubs before calling time on his career in 1999. Botafogo was his last stop before retirement.
The 61-year-old is one of the most experienced and successful football managers in Brazil. He has managed over 20 different clubs since he transitioned from a retired footballer to a manager in 2002.
Dorival Junior's first managerial stint was with his boyhood club Feroviara, where he started his career. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most successful football managers in Brazil.
He is the first manager to win Copa do Brasil with three different clubs - Santos in 2010, Flamengo in 2022, and Sao Paulo in 2023.
He is also a Copa Libertadore winner with Flamengo. Dorival has had spell with some of the biggest clubs in Brazil from Palmeiras, Fluminense, Santos, Sao Paulo, Coritiba, Atletico Mineiro, Vasco Da Gama, Internacional, and others.
He was considered the right man to replace Fernando Diniz after the Fluminense manager was sack. Sao Paulo opted for a new contract extension for Dorival Junior but he turned it down to take the Brazil job. He has signed contract with the team till 2026 to see the team through the next World Cup.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was also primed by Brazil Football Federation to take over from Fernando Diniz but the Italian and European football veteran snubbed the offer to sign a new contract with Real Madrid.
Brazil then opted to look inwards for a replacement for Diniz with Dorival Junior emerging as a top candidate based on his experience and prolific record in Brazilian football as a manager.
The 61-year-old has been contracted until 2026 to see Brazil through the next World Cup.
Who is Dorival Junior?
Dorival Junior is Brazil professional head coach who has been recently appointed as Brazil national team manager.
Dorival Junior, 61, was born in Araquara, Brazil. He is former Brazil footballer who played for about 13 clubs before calling time on his career in 1999. Botafogo was his last stop before retirement.
The 61-year-old is one of the most experienced and successful football managers in Brazil. He has managed over 20 different clubs since he transitioned from a retired footballer to a manager in 2002.
Dorival Junior's first managerial stint was with his boyhood club Feroviara, where he started his career. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most successful football managers in Brazil.
He is the first manager to win Copa do Brasil with three different clubs - Santos in 2010, Flamengo in 2022, and Sao Paulo in 2023.
He is also a Copa Libertadore winner with Flamengo. Dorival has had spell with some of the biggest clubs in Brazil from Palmeiras, Fluminense, Santos, Sao Paulo, Coritiba, Atletico Mineiro, Vasco Da Gama, Internacional, and others.
He was considered the right man to replace Fernando Diniz after the Fluminense manager was sack. Sao Paulo opted for a new contract extension for Dorival Junior but he turned it down to take the Brazil job. He has signed contract with the team till 2026 to see the team through the next World Cup.