Dunga, 42, the captain of the Brazilian National Football Team in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, has been chosen to be the new coach of the Brazilian Seleção. The player has no previous experience as coach.
The choice of the man who will substitute Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led the team to victory in 1994, but had a disastrous performance in the just-finished World Cup in Germany, was announced today, July 24, by the CBF (Confederação Brasileira de Futebol – Brazilian Football Confederation).
Ricardo Teixeira. the CBF’s president, justified the choice saying that the CBF was looking for someone who could show some enthusiasm, a contrast with the apathetic work developed by Parreira.
Teixeira promised he will not interfere in the work of the new coach: "Dunga’s choice will fulfill the wishes of the Brazilian fans who want a vibrant coach in the Seleção."
Dunga seems attuned to his boss: "I want to bring to the Brazilian Seleção the same will I used to have as a player. Vibration, motivation and will to win are mandatory to wear the Brazilian Seleção’s shirt."
His first mission will be to choose and coach the new national team to face Norway in Oslo, on August 16. But there is already talk that he starts now to prepare the national team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Dunga’s choice came as a surprise. Ex-Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo and former Peru coach Paulo Autuori had been the names most cited as favorites to replace Parreira.
