Here is all you need to know about the new Brazilian head coach Dorival Junior including his age, career, tactics and more
The Brazilian squad confirmed in a statement on Sunday that Dorival Junior has resigned as coach of Sao Paulo to assume leadership of the national team.
In order to appoint a permanent coach to get the team ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) stated on Friday that Fernando Diniz, who was appointed on an interim basis last year, had been fired.
Who is Dorival Junior new Brazil football team coach, bio, age, family, wife, tactics and coaching style
Coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid was the candidate CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues had anticipated would lead Brazil. But Ancelotti recently renewed his Madrid contract. Dorival led Sao Paulo to their first Brazilian Cup triumph last year. He also won the coveted Copa Libertadores with Flamengo in 2022.
Who is Dorival Junior?
Dorival Silvestre Júnior, a Brazilian football coach and former defensive midfield player, was born on April 25, 1962 in Araraquara, Brazil. He is currently the head coach of Brazil International Football team. The 61-year-old stands 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) tall.
A look at Dorival Junior’s career
With Ferroviária as his first team, Júnior began his coaching career in 2002 after coaching Figueirens as their assistant coach. In May of that year, he departed the team to rejoin Figueirense as director of football. However, in September of 2003, he was appointed head coach of Figueira, and the following year, the team won the Campeonato Catarinense.
After being named head coach of Fortaleza in 2005, he was dismissed on March 30. The same year, Júnior oversaw Juventude and Criciúma. He managed Avaí and helped Sport Recife win the Campeonato Pernambucano in 2006 before departing the team in October to take over São Caetano.
Cruzeiro hired Júnior as head coach on May 8, 2007, following his impressive performance with the Azulão in the Campeonato Paulista. In 2009, he was then promoted to Serie B and the same year he became the head coach of Santos.
He managed Atlético Mineiro, Internacional, Flamengo, Vasco da Gama and Fluminense before returning to Santos. He joined Sao Paulo in 2017 before returning to Flamengo in 2018 and the same year he joined Athletico Paranaense.
In 2022, he joined Ceará before returning to Flamengo again and São Paulo in 2023.
Dorival is known for his attacking style of play with a 4-2-3-1 formation and under him, the mid-block makes quick passes to get the ball up the pitch while the full-backs make forays into the final third for set-piece opportunities and while out of possession, the defence forms a fortress in its half with two men stationed in front of the four-man backline to get the ball back and contain counterattacks.
Dorival Junior’s family
Júnior is a former Brazilian player Dudu’s nephew. He is married to Valeria Khodor Silvestre and has a son named Lucas Silvestre who has been assisting him since 2010.