体坛英语新闻：Brazilian Confederation of Soccer wants Parreira as head coach

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The president of the Brazilian Confederation of Soccer, Ricardo Teixeira announced on Saturday that he wanted Carlos Alberto Parreira to coach the Brazilian national team and would send an official offer by the end of the month.

The announcement came as a surprise since names like Mano Menezes, Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Luis Felipe Scolari were considered as heavy favorites for the position. The three coaches previously received the support from Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Teixieira believes that Parreira's familiarity with the system in Brazil combined with his availability makes the coach the heavy favorite. Parreira was recently released as the head coach of the South African national soccer team and is currently unemployed.

File photo of Carlos Alberto Parreira

Menezes is currently the head coach of Corinthians, while Luxemburgo is coaching at Atletico-MG and Scolari at Palmeiras. Scolari was also a former head coach of the Brazilian national soccer team, winning the 2002 World Cup in South Korea/Japan.

Parreira coached the Brazilian national soccer team from 1991 to 1994, winning the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He then returned to coach the national team from 2002 to 2006, cumulating in a disappointing quarterfinals loss in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

No matter who will be selected as the new head coach of Brazil, the national team has a friendly on August 10 against the U.S. in New Jersey. In order to reorganize the team in time for the match, the Brazilian Confederation of Soccer will have to act fast.