Ramalho rejects Brazil coaching job to stay with Brazilian club Fluminense

Ramalho rejects Brazil job to stay with Fluminense

SAO PAULO — Fluminense directors say coach Muricy Ramalho has rejected an offer to take over Brazil and will remain at the Rio club.

The Brazilian soccer federation offered Ramalho the national team job Friday, but the deal was pending an agreement with Fluminense, whose contract with the coach goes until the end of 2012.

Federation president Ricardo Teixeira says Ramalho told him he wanted to coach the national team and agreed with the entity’s plan for the 2014 World Cup.

Brazil is seeking a replacement for Dunga, who was fired days after it lost to the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa. Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup.

On Monday, the national team has to announce its squad for the Aug. 10 friendly against the United States in New Jersey.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

SAO PAULO (AP) — The Brazilian Football Federation says it has invited Fluminense coach Muricy Ramalho to lead the national team.

Federation president Ricardo Teixeira tells the O Globo TV network he invited Ramalho on Friday in Rio de Janeiro.

Teixeira says that before the appointment becomes official, Ramalho must first talk with his Rio club, with which he has a contract until the end of the year.

Ramalho will replace Dunga, who was fired just days after Brazil’s disappointing loss to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of World Cup in South Africa.

ESPN’s website says that at the end of the meeting Ramalho told reporters: “Who wouldn’t want to coach Brazilian national team?”