Brazil offers coaching job to Corinthians coach Mano Menezes

Brazil offers coaching job to Menezes

SAO PAULO — Mano Menezes has been invited to coach the Brazilian soccer team.

Brazil was turned down earlier in the day by Muricy Ramalho, who honored his contract with club team Fluminense.

Menezes, the coach of Sao Paulo club team Corinthians, will announce his decision on Saturday, Brazil’s soccer federation says.

“What determined the choice was the understanding that an immediate renovation is needed in the Brazilian national team,” Teixeira said in a statement on the federation’s website.

Brazil is looking to replace Dunga, who was fired days after a loss to the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa. Brazil, eliminated in the quarterfinals of the past two World Cups, will host the tournament in 2014.

Three-time Brazilian champion Ramalho told the federation he rejected the offer because Fluminense did not allow him to break his contract, which was recently extended until the end of 2012.

Menezes will have the difficult task of leading the team in the tournament which will take place in Brazil for the first time since 1950 and will add unprecedented expectations among fans in the soccer-crazy nation.

“The final goal is the 2014 World Cup,” Teixeira said.