A mixture of young talent and aging veterans overcome heavily favored opponents
Toda grande seleção, em algum momento, se vê diante do espelho da derrota e precisa decidir quem será o próximo guardião de sua identidade futebolística. Com a eliminação do Brasil para a Croácia no Catar e a saída de Tite, a CBF inicia em janeiro de 2023 a busca por um novo técnico, equilibrando entre o prestígio dos grandes nomes europeus e a familiaridade dos treinadores da terra. A escolha que vier dirá muito não apenas sobre estratégia tática, mas sobre o que o Brasil acredita ser — e o que deseja se tornar.
- A eliminação nas quartas de final para a Croácia deixou um vazio imediato no comando da Seleção, com Tite encerrando um ciclo e a CBF prometendo anunciar seu substituto já em janeiro.
- Meia dúzia de nomes sérios disputam a atenção da federação: de Carlo Ancelotti, campeão da Champions pelo Real Madrid, a Abel Ferreira, bicampeão da Libertadores pelo Palmeiras.
- A tensão entre contratar um técnico estrangeiro de elite — com o prestígio e o custo que isso implica — ou apostar em um nome brasileiro domina os bastidores da CBF.
- Ancelotti teria sido consultado em outubro, mas só aceitaria negociar de verdade após junho de 2023, enquanto a CBF nega publicamente qualquer tratativa em andamento.
- Dorival Júnior, que conduziu o Flamengo a dois títulos em 2022, e o sonho improvável de Pep Guardiola completam um cenário de expectativas altas e incertezas reais.
A saída de Tite após a eliminação do Brasil para a Croácia na Copa do Mundo deixou a CBF em busca de um novo técnico, com o presidente Ednaldo Rodrigues prometendo anunciar a escolha em janeiro. A espera já gerou intensa especulação, com nomes vindos tanto da elite europeia quanto do futebol brasileiro.
O nome mais badalado é Carlo Ancelotti, 63 anos, atual técnico do Real Madrid e detentor de quatro títulos da Champions League. Sob seu comando, o clube espanhol venceu a liga e a Champions na última temporada, contando com brasileiros como Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo e Militão. Segundo relatos, a CBF o consultou em outubro, mas Ancelotti indicou que só negociaria de forma séria após o fim da temporada europeia, em junho de 2023. A federação negou qualquer tratativa ativa.
Entre os candidatos nacionais, Fernando Diniz, do Fluminense, chama atenção pelo futebol ofensivo e de posse, embora sua trajetória seja marcada por chegadas perto — mas não ao topo — dos títulos mais cobiçados. Já entre os portugueses, Jorge Jesus carrega a memória gloriosa de seu Flamengo de 2019-2020, com 43 vitórias em 57 jogos e dois títulos continentais, mas não conquistou troféus desde que deixou o Rio.
Abel Ferreira, 43 anos, construiu no Palmeiras um dos currículos mais sólidos do futebol sul-americano recente: duas Libertadores, uma Copa do Brasil, um Brasileirão e mais. Seu estilo vertical e pragmático contrasta com a proposta mais expansiva de outros candidatos. Dorival Júnior, sem clube após deixar o Flamengo — ironicamente, enquanto o clube cogitava outro técnico apesar de seus dois títulos em 2022 —, também figura na lista, carregando tanto qualidades táticas quanto um histórico delicado com Neymar.
Pep Guardiola permanece o sonho distante: admirado por Dorival, estudado por gerações, mas comprometido com o Manchester City até 2025. A CBF gerencia expectativas enquanto o processo de escolha avança — e o Brasil aguarda saber quem moldará o próximo capítulo de sua história no futebol.
Tite's departure from Brazil's national team coaching post after the World Cup elimination to Croatia has left the CBF searching for a successor, with the federation promising to announce its choice in January under the direction of president Ednaldo Rodrigues. The search has already generated considerable speculation, with a half-dozen serious candidates emerging from both Europe's elite clubs and Brazil's domestic league.
Carlo Ancelotti stands as perhaps the most prominent name in circulation. The 63-year-old Italian currently manages Real Madrid, where he has just completed a season of remarkable achievement—winning both the Spanish league and the Champions League in a campaign that saw his squad, a mixture of young talent and aging veterans, overcome heavily favored opponents like Manchester City and Liverpool. Ancelotti has won four Champions League titles across his career, claiming two each with Milan and Madrid, and has captured five European league championships since 2003. At Real Madrid, he oversees several Brazilian players, including Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Éder Militão. According to reports, the CBF approached Ancelotti in October about the position, and while he expressed willingness to negotiate, he indicated he would only entertain serious discussions after the European season concludes in June 2023. The federation released a statement on December 12 denying any active negotiations with Ancelotti or other coaches.
Among domestic candidates, Fernando Diniz of Fluminense has drawn considerable attention. The 48-year-old Minas Gerais native is known for his commitment to attacking football and ball possession, building teams that play with flair though sometimes lacking consistency. His tactical boldness has brought him close to major titles but not across the finish line—he finished as runner-up in the 2016 São Paulo state championship, led São Paulo's league campaign with a seven-point advantage before a late-season collapse that saw him dismissed in the 33rd round with the team finishing fourth, and reached the Copa do Brasil semifinals twice without winning. Jorge Jesus, the 68-year-old Portuguese coach now at Fenerbahçe, offers a different profile. His brief tenure at Flamengo between 2019 and 2020 produced extraordinary results: a Brazilian championship and Copa Libertadores title in 2019, followed by state, Super Cup, and South American Recopa titles the following year. In 57 matches, his Flamengo side won 43, drew 10, and lost only 4. Since leaving Rio, however, Jesus has not captured titles, suffering early Champions League elimination at Benfica and eventual dismissal after a loss to Porto.
Abel Ferreira, another Portuguese coach at 43, has compiled an even more impressive trophy haul since arriving at Palmeiras in September 2020. He has won two Copa Libertadores titles, one Copa do Brasil, one Brazilian league championship, one São Paulo state title, and one South American Recopa—achievements that have led portions of the Palmeiras fanbase to regard him as the greatest coach in club history. His tactical approach emphasizes quick, vertical counterattacks and a more conservative posture than many of his competitors for the national team job.
Dorival Júnior, 60 and currently without a club, recently departed Flamengo after the club explored hiring Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira despite Dorival's strong 2022 results. Contracted in June, Dorival had revived the team following Paulo Souza's unsuccessful first-half tenure, recovered striker Pedro from the bench to the point of national team selection, and guided Flamengo to both the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil in October. His offensive approach mirrors tactics employed by Pep Guardiola, whom he studied during a sabbatical in Europe while observing the Spaniard's work at Bayern Munich. Dorival carries historical baggage with Neymar, stemming from a 2010 incident at Santos when the young player cursed him after being prevented from taking a penalty kick, leading to Dorival's dismissal rather than Neymar's punishment.
Pep Guardiola, the 51-year-old Manchester City manager and widely considered one of the world's finest coaches, remains a dream candidate for many Brazilian supporters. However, his recent contract extension with City through 2025 makes his appointment highly unlikely. Before Manchester City, Guardiola managed Bayern Munich, winning three German league titles, and Barcelona, where between 2008 and 2012 he captured two Champions League titles and three Spanish league championships while establishing a globally influential attacking philosophy centered on ball possession. The CBF's denial of active negotiations suggests the federation is managing expectations while the selection process unfolds over the coming weeks.
Citações Notáveis
The federation denied any active negotiations with Ancelotti or other coaches— CBF statement, December 12, 2022
Dorival said the club's leadership understood that this moment called for a change— Dorival Júnior, on his departure from Flamengo
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why does it matter so much who coaches Brazil's national team? It's just one job.
Because Brazil doesn't think of it that way. The national team is the country's identity in football. Whoever takes it inherits not just a squad but a philosophy, a way of playing that Brazilians believe in. Tite had that. Now they have to find it again.
So they're looking at Ancelotti, who's won everything in Europe, and also at Diniz, who hasn't won much at all. How do you choose between those?
That's the real tension. Ancelotti brings proven success at the highest level—he's beaten the best. But Diniz represents something Brazil values: attacking football, risk-taking, the belief that you should try to win beautifully. Ancelotti is balanced. Diniz is bold.
What about the Portuguese coaches—Jesus and Ferreira?
They're interesting because they've won in Brazil recently. Jesus won everything at Flamengo in two years but hasn't replicated that success in Europe. Ferreira has been even more successful at Palmeiras, but he's more defensive-minded, more pragmatic. He waits for mistakes rather than forcing the issue.
And Dorival—why is he in the conversation if he just left Flamengo?
Because he just won two major trophies there. He rebuilt the team, made it competitive again. But there's also that old conflict with Neymar from 2010. If you hire Dorival, you're potentially hiring conflict with your best player.
Guardiola is listed but seems impossible.
He is. He just extended his contract. But he's on the list because he's the dream—the best in the world, the most innovative. Sometimes you list the dream even knowing it won't happen. It's aspirational.
When will they actually decide?
January, they say. But these things move slowly in Brazil. The real question is whether they want someone who's proven at the highest level, or someone who embodies how Brazil wants to play.