Brazil set to appoint Corinthians’ Tite as new coach despite anger from club
The Corinthians manager Tite has accepted an offer to coach Brazil but his appointment provoked fury at the club, who accused the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) of underhand tactics and unethical behaviour.
Tite, who led Corinthians to two Serie A titles as well as Copa Libertadores and Club World Cup triumphs, will replace Dunga, who was fired on Tuesday after Brazil were knocked out of the Copa América at the group stage for the first time since 1987.
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The 55-year-old Tite, whose official name is Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, is expected to sign a deal on Thursday, although details have yet to be hashed out, the CBF said in a statement.
The Corinthians president, Roberto de Andrade, however, hit out at the confederation. “I am furious with the CBF,” Andrade told reporters. “They didn’t even call us once. It wouldn’t have changed anything if they’d called us and asked for permission to talk to the manager. Of course I’d have said yes.
“Tite deserves the national side for the work he has done and for the person he is,” Andrade added. “The national side doesn’t deserve Tite. The CBF doesn’t deserve a person like Tite. They aren’t used to dealing with ethical people.”
The CBF responded by saying they had tried calling Andrade on Wednesday morning after spending three hours in talks with Tite but were unable to reach him via phone or text.
“The CBF has only respect for Brazilians clubs and their interests,” the governing body added in a statement.
Although Andrade’s comments were unusually outspoken they were not the first public criticism of the CBF over the past six months.
The last three CBF presidents – including the current holder of the position, Marco Polo Del Nero – were indicted in the US for bribery and racketeering offences as part of the Fifa corruption scandal.
Tite was one of 100 people who signed an open letter last December calling for Del Nero to resign.
Del Nero did not respond to the letter, which was signed by Pelé, Zico and Raí among others, and he did not accompany Brazil to the US for either the Copa América or friendly matches played there.