Jorge Jesus (foto: Getty Images)
Brazil are poised to appoint Jorge Jesus as national team coach, marking the first time in 100 years the Seleção will be led by a foreign manager.
Brazil are on the verge of making a historic decision by appointing a foreign manager to lead the national team for the first time in over a century.
According to reports from Brazilian outlet Globo, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has held advanced talks with Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, currently under contract at Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
A historic break from tradition
Since the appointment of Uruguayan coach Ramón Platero in 1925, who held the role for just 60 days, Brazil have exclusively hired domestic managers. Now, that near-century-long tradition appears set to end.
The CBF had previously targeted Carlo Ancelotti to succeed Tite, but after months of speculation and failed negotiations, the federation has shifted focus to Jorge Jesus, the man credited with sparking the recent Portuguese coaching revolution in Brazilian football.
Jesus ready to return to Brazil
Jesus, who gained legendary status during his tenure at Flamengo, is reportedly open to returning to Brazil, even if it means cutting his contract short with Al Hilal. While the Saudi side is unlikely to block his departure, it is understood the CBF is willing to pay compensation to facilitate the move.
If an agreement is reached, Jorge Jesus could take over the Seleção after the conclusion of the current club season, which would also rule him out of leading Al Hilal at the FIFA Club World Cup.
From Flamengo glory to the national spotlight
During his iconic stint at Flamengo, Jorge Jesus won the Copa Libertadores and the Brasileirão in 2019, reshaping perceptions of foreign managers in Brazil. His success opened the door for a wave of Portuguese coaches, many of whom have since followed his path into Brazilian club football.
His potential appointment to the national team marks a bold departure from Brazil’s deeply rooted tradition of hiring only homegrown coaches, and signals the CBF’s readiness to embrace a new era.