FIFA Updates

TEGUCIGALPA, July 28 (Reuters) – A tearful Reinaldo Rueda
has stepped down as Honduras coach, saying his position had
been weakened since the World Cup.

Rueda took Honduras to just their second World Cup in South
Africa where they were lost to Chile and Spain and drew with
Switzerland without managing to score a goal.

“Since the World Cup, the pillars of union, respect and
credibility have started to weaken,” said Rueda, adding that
the problems began with criticism of the squad he picked for
the tournament.

“If we had followed the same route we would have got better
results, but after we qualified a lot of factors came together
and these prevented us from producing a better performance.”

Rueda, who previously coached Colombia in the qualifiers
for the 2006 World Cup, took over at the start of 2007.

In three years he rebuilt and united the Honduras squad and
led them to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1982.

“The atmosphere is not the best, so we’ve decided to step
aside,” the Colombian told a news conference, referring to
himself and his coaching staff.

“I’d like to repay the friendship and generosity that the
country has shown to myself and especially my family,” added
Rueda, who broke down in tears at the end of the conference.

Rueda said he had received an offer to coach Ecuador, which
he was considering, and one to coach the United Arab Emirates,
which was less attractive.

“It’s a different culture, a lot of money but it means
sacrificing my family, sacrificing myself professionally,” he
said.
(Reporting by Gustavo Palencia, writing by Brian Homewood in
Berne; Editing by Peter Rutherford

July 24 (Reuters) – Factbox on Mano Menezes who was
appointed as coach of Brazil on Saturday:

Born June 11, 1962, in Passo do Sobrado, state of Rio Grande
do Sul, southern Brazil. Full name is Luis Antonio Venker de
Menezes.

COACHING CAREER

* Menezes began coaching with youth teams in Rio Grande do
Sul, his native state, in 1992. His first professional job was
as coach of provincial club Guarani-Venancio Aires in 1997.

* He first made his name in 2004 when he led third division
side XV de Novembro to the semi-finals of the Copa Brasil,
beating first division Vasco da Gama on the way.

* In 2005, he was appointed as coach of Gremio, one of
Brazil’s most popular clubs, with the job of leading them out of
the second division. He succeeded in extraordinary style.

In their final game away to Nautico and needing a draw to be
promoted at their opponents’ expense, Gremio survived a penalty
miss—which followed a 25-minute suspension of the match as
players argued—and had four players sent off but still
managed to sneak a 1-0 win with a late goal.

* The following season, Gremio finished third in the first
division.

* In 2007, they went all the way to the final of the
Libertadores Cup, the South American equivalent of the Champions
League, before losing to Boca Juniors.

CORINTHIANS

* In 2008, Menezes joined Corinthians who, like Gremio, were
in the second division. Describing it as “the biggest job in
Brazilian football”, he once again won promotion at the first
attempt, Corinthians losing only three times in a 38-match
campaign.

* The following season, Corinthians signed former Brazil
striker Ronaldo who returned to play at home after a 15-year
absence. They won the Copa Brasil knockout competition.

* This year, Menezes suffered his first major disappointment
with Corinthians when they were knocked out of the Libertadores
in the round-of-16.

* Accepted the position as coach of five-times world
champions Brazil, replacing Dunga, who quit after Brazil’s shock
quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup in
South Africa.

* In contrast to his hard-nosed predecessor Dunga, Menezes
is regarded as easy-going and relaxed.

(Compiled by Brian Homewood; editing by Neil Maidment; to
query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

SAO PAULO, July 24 (Reuters) – Mano Menezes, currently coach
of Corinthians, accepted an offer to take over as coach of
Brazil on Saturday.

“For the whole of Brazil, I say that I officially accept the
invitation,” he told a news conference. The Brazilian Football
Confederation (CBF) said on Friday night that they had offered
Menezes the job.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne, Editing by Justin
Palmer

To query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

SAO PAULO (AP)—Brazil’s national soccer team was spurned Friday in its attempt
to hire a coach, with Muricy Ramalho staying at his Fluminense club because of
contractual obligations.

Brazil, a five-time World Cup, champion is looking to replace Dunga. He was
fired days after a loss to the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinals in
South Africa. Brazil will host the tournament in 2014.

The 54-year-old Ramalho has little experience abroad but is one of the most
respected coaches in Brazilian soccer.

The Brazilian federation offered him the job Friday, but the deal was
contingent on an agreement with Fluminense. The directors of the Rio de Janeiro
club say the coach will remain with the team until his contract expires at the
end of 2012.

Federation president Ricardo Teixeira says Ramalho told him he wanted to
coach the national team and agreed with its plan for the 2014 World Cup. Ramalho
has long said his ultimate goal is to coach Brazil, and before talking with
Fluminense directors he had hinted he would accept the federation’s offer.

“Who wouldn’t want to coach the Brazilian national team?” he told ESPN
Brasil’s website.

Even Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had already commented on the
man he thought was the new national team coach, saying he was a “good choice.”

Other names touted for the position include World Cup winner Luiz Felipe
Scolari, former Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Corinthians coach
Mano Menezes.

Ramalho led Sao Paulo to three consecutive Brazilian league titles (2006-08)
and Internacional to a runner-up finish in 2005. He was honored as the league’s
best coach all four years.

Ramalho has also coached nine other teams in Brazil, as well as China’s
Shanghai Shenhua. Between 1973 and 1979 he played for Sao Paulo as a midfielder,
scoring 26 goals in 177 games.

On Monday, Brazil’s national team will announce its squad for its Aug. 10
exhibition against the United States in New Jersey.

Associated Press Writer Stan Lehman contributed to this report.