Long before Brazil kicked a ball in the March international window, a quiet revolution had already begun behind the scenes. Conversations had taken place, discreet yet decisive, and the writing was already on the wall for head coach Dorival Júnior. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), under the leadership of Ednaldo Rodrigues, had communicated its enduring desire to bring Carlo Ancelotti into the fold—a courtship that had lingered across continents and calendars. In the same breath, the name Jorge Jesus began to reappear in internal discussions, not as an ideal dream but as a more tangible, present possibility.
These early movements were not simply reactions to
performance; they were part of a broader recalibration at the top of Brazilian
football. The upcoming presidential election of the CBF, scheduled on the eve
of Brazil's showdown against Argentina, created a perfect moment for power
consolidation. Rodrigues, a seasoned operator, recognized the opportunity to
reassert control. As tensions simmered within the federation, he removed
himself from the daily operations of a FIFA international break long marked as
a judgment week for Dorival and his staff.
Silence in Brasília:
The Sound of Discontent
The Seleção’s base in Brasília during the March fixtures
became a crucible of pressure and unspoken uncertainty. The absence of the CBF
president during critical preparation phases was interpreted not as neglect,
but as a deliberate distancing. In football, absence often speaks louder than
words. It was a clear signal that only truly exceptional performances could
reverse a decision already in motion.
Internally, Dorival and his coaching staff had set a
realistic target: four points from two games. It was a modest ambition meant to
ease the tension—particularly if a draw could be earned in the fierce
atmosphere of Buenos Aires. But the scars of a disappointing performance
against Colombia had not yet healed. Brazil’s fragile momentum made every game
feel like a referendum.
Rodrigues finally arrived in Brasília on the day of the 4-1
win over Colombia, and he stayed through the next day's defeat to Argentina. In
public, Dorival maintained dignity. He praised the support structures in place
and insisted the president had provided the tools necessary to succeed. But in
the locker room, the energy had already shifted. It was not the scene of a
triumphant revival—it was the quiet recognition of a relationship running its
course. No embraces, no rallying words, no promise of tomorrow.
The Art of Surgical
Dismissal
Perhaps the most intriguing part of this story is not that
Dorival was dismissed—but how. Rodrigues’s strategy wasn’t a sweeping purge but
a precise operation. The president separated the coaching staff from the rest
of the national team department, an unorthodox move that sent ripples through
the corridors of power.
Director Rodrigo Caetano, expected by many to be a central
figure in any such decisions, was not consulted. He had no part in the initial
overtures to Ancelotti nor in the more recent dialogues surrounding Jorge
Jesus. This exclusion speaks volumes about the nature of power within the
CBF—centralized, opaque, and firmly held by Rodrigues.
Still, there were hints that the president’s intentions
weren’t wholesale dismissal. Just before the meeting that would officially end
Dorival’s tenure, team manager Cícero Souza was confirmed to be travelling to
Colombia. There, he was to assist Branco in overseeing the U-17 national team’s
campaign in the South American Championship, which had opened with a 1-1 draw
against Uruguay. Why send someone abroad on federation duty if he was to be relieved
the next day? It was a subtle sign of selective pruning rather than a full
reset.
In the end, only those tied directly to Dorival were asked
to step aside. Assistants Lucas Silvestre and Pedro Sotero, physical trainer
Celso Rezende, and team supervisor Sérgio Dimas—all closely linked to the
coach’s career—were let go. Curiously, technical coordinator Juan, a
recommendation by Dorival, remained. It was a rare thread of continuity in an
otherwise disjointed transition.
The Road Ahead: June
and the Shadow of Jesus
Dorival’s departure creates not just a vacancy but a
vacuum—one the CBF must fill quickly. With the next FIFA window in June
looming, Brazil must appoint a new head coach soon to keep its 2026 World Cup
campaign on track and reorient a program in disarray.
Jorge Jesus, currently at Saudi club Al Hilal, remains the
likeliest candidate. His willingness to forgo participation in the Club World
Cup signals both his availability and interest. However, he has expressed a
desire to guide Al Hilal through the final stages of the Asian Champions
League, a campaign that concludes in early May. Should Brazil want him—and all
signs point to that being the case—the timing could align.
What remains clear is that this new chapter in Brazilian
football will not be written solely on the field. It is being forged in the
boardrooms, in whispered conversations, in emails and unofficial overtures. The
pursuit of a sixth World Cup title, Brazil’s holy grail, is now as much about
institutional vision and executive manoeuvring as it is about talent and
tactics.
Conclusion: The
Mirror of a Nation
Brazil’s national team has always been more than a
collection of players. It is a mirror of the nation’s aspirations, anxieties,
and contradictions. The fall of Dorival Júnior—quiet, calculated, and
cold—reflects a federation striving for control and clarity amid a chaotic
global football landscape.
As the Seleção looks to rebuild, what emerges is a portrait of transition: not just of coaching philosophies, but of leadership, power dynamics, and identity. Whether the next man in charge is Ancelotti, Jorge Jesus, or another name yet to be whispered in Rio’s corridors, the challenge remains the same: to heal the fractures, inspire a generation, and once again make Brazil the beating heart of world football.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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