Brazil finally appoint coach: Mano Menezes takes over
July 24, 2010 at 11:56 1 comment
Mano Menezes
Following yesterday’s debacle with Muricy Ramalho, the Brazilian Football Confederation have finally got their man – or rather the man they wanted after their first choice turned out to be unavailable.
After being invited to take over Brazil on Friday, Luis Antônio Venker Menezes, 48, better known as Mano Menezes, confirmed that he would accept the post on Saturday morning.
Menezes first test as Brazil coach will be versus the USA in the Meadowlands stadium in New Jersey on August 10th. Menezes never played professional football but after studying physical education turned his hand to coaching at Rio Grande do Sul’s Guarani de Venancio Aires in 1997. Spells at minnows Brasil de Pelotas RS, Iraty PR, XV de Novembro, and Caxias followed before Grêmio picked him up in 2005. The Olímpico club had just been relegated from Série A and were taking a bit of a gamble on the relatively inexperienced Menezes. The coach, though, took Grêmio straight back up. In 2006, Grêmio finished 3rd in the top flight. Less than a year later, Menezes guided Grêmio to the finals of the Libertadores were they lost to Boca Juniors.
Menezes next challenge was to lift Corinthians out of the second division. Once again, Menezes succeeded at the first time of asking.
In 2009, the coach led the Musketeers to victory in the Copa do Brasil and a place in the 2010 Libertadores. Corinthians, though, went out of the last 16 of the competition to Flamengo.
Menezes will officially take over the reins of Brazil on Monday. The coach has developed a reputation for motivation skills and putting together competitive sides. Menezes’ teams are always hardworking and generally not flash. The coach favours a tough defensive core usually opting for a safe 4:4:2 formation. Menezes is another one of the new breed of managers that like to take the lead and sit on it. But while the coach’s teams usually play well within their capabilities, his sides can very quickly step up a gear or two to devastating effect. It’s this ability to take the game to the opposition that Brazil fans will hope they’ll see from Mano Menezes.
Entry filed under: Brazil squad. Tags: Luis Antônio Venker Menezes, Mano Menezes.
1. Martin | July 25, 2010 at 16:17
Most Brazilians I know were not happy that Fluminense prevented Muricy Ramalho from taking the job. But I think Mano Menezes is a good choice and his teams I think play pretty attractive football. Look no matter who Brazil gets you are not going to see a repeat of Tele Santana’s 1982 team but Mano Menezes has a pretty good track record and unlike Muricy, Mano Menezes’ teams have been pretty successful internationally. Muricy Ramalho’s team were successful domestically but were much less so internationally.
Finally I would add that Felipao was considered a pretty practical and defensive minded coach in his club managerial career but his 2002 World Cp winning team was very offensive minded as were his Portugal teams he managed. So do not condemn Mano Menezes for being overly defensive. He may just surprise you.