Dorival Junior to coach Brazil after leaving Sao Paulo

MEXICO CITY, Jan 08 (Reuters): Dorival Junior has quit as coach of Brazilian side Sao Paulo to take charge of Brazil's National team, the club said in a statement on Sunday.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Friday that Fernando Diniz, appointed last year on an interim basis, had been sacked in order to hire a permanent coach to prepare the team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Dorival was Brazil's preferred choice for the job, sources told Reuters, after the CBF failed to recruit Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, who chose to extend his contract with Real Madrid.
"Sao Paulo Football Club announces the departure of coach Dorival Junior, who has asked to leave to take charge of the Brazilian national team," the team said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
Reuters has contacted the CBF for comment after the federation did not immediately confirm the appointment.
Dorival led Flamengo to the Copa Libertadores title and the Brazilian Cup in 2022 before joining Sao Paulo.
He has also coached Atletico Mineiro, Athletico Paranaense, Internacional, Vasco da Gama, Fluminense and Palmeiras.