Football Update: Menezes faces uphill task of rebuilding Brazilian team
Having glorious history and plethora of talent, Brazil is always forerunners to win the World Cup. They are the only team to win the football’s greatest prize five times. When Brazil excels, players are credited for it but when it loses on world stage, coach takes the fall.
Being boss of Brazilian team is one of the difficult jobs in the world. Phil Scholari and Carlos Alberta can testify to this fact. Therefore, when Mano Menezes takes over the realm of Brazilian football, it is expected that he will face a h**l of time. Menezes was selected after preferred choices refused to accept the offer. First, it was Big Phil then it was Muricy Ramalho, who is currently in charge of Fluminense.
Ramalho was instrumental in changing fortunes of Sao Paulo. He guided them to three consecutive league titles between 2006 and 2008. Just before the 2010 World Cup, he was asked whether he will give up offer for Brazil’s top job. He termed it as "a joke". Yet, in an unpredictable turn of event, he has done exactly that. Ramalho is constrained by the contract, which does not allow him to leave the club.
Following Ramalho’s refusal, Brazilian football governing body (CBF) came under heavy criticism for mismanaging football affairs. Brazil’s famous sports daily Lance criticized CBF in its editorial. Its editorial stated, “The amateurism and improvisation of the actions of the CBF and its directors with things of real importance to our football. Attitudes for which we have already paid a high price, with the loss of titles and of chances to organise our domestic football. And which have transformed the organisation of the 2014 World Cup into a blind flight to an uncertain destination”.
Ramalho has said that contracts should be honoured, and that he needs to give an example to his children by sticking to his agreement with Fluminense. It seems as his naïve attempt to achieve high moral ground but pundits are claiming that his decision is purely motivated by pragmatism, which has been the hallmark of his career.
Dunga took an old squad to South Africa and that turned out to be his bane. Menezes will be tasked to build fresh and young Brazilian squad. Menezes may take charge of the Under-20s and will definitely lead the Under-23s at the London Olympics. Menezes’ strategy will be under scrutiny in coming days when Brazil plays friendly against USA. He may put relatively young side against Americans. Resultantly, results might suffer while an inexperienced team get top level experience. Menezes may end up like Falcao, who took reins after 1990 World Cup with the purpose of rebuilding team but shortly losing his job. On the other hand, Big Phil still remains people’s choice.
However, 2002 World Cup winner has clearly stated that he is not interested in the job, as he is contracted with Brazilian famous club Palmeiras. On the other hand, he has also not closed the door of his return by stating that he may take this job in two years time, in the run up to 2014.
Mano Menezes had a very low-profile career as a player. He played as a lower division centre-back in his playing days before retiring to start coaching. Initially, he coached a number of minor sides before leading top sides in form of Gremio and Corinthians in last five years. He had phenomenal success with both of them as he took the from Second Division to the first division before leading Gremio to the final of the 2007 Copa Libertadores and winning last year's Brazilian Cup with Corinthians.
The fate of the Menezes as well as Brazilian squad will be decided in the coming years. Brazil is under added pressure to produce results as they will be hosting 2014 edition. Time will tell whether Menezes will remain till then or any new face will lead Brazil on their home soil.
Tags: