By FRANCO PANIZO
If Mano Menezes is to attend the 2014 World Cup, it will not be as head coach of Brazil.
Approximately 19 months away from hosting the 2014 World Cup, Brazil has decided to make a major change to their national team by firing Menezes. The 50-year-old received much criticism in recent months for the the Selecao’s style of play, and the decision to part ways with him came during a meeting with Brazilian confederation president Jose Maria Marin and vice president Marco Polo del Nero.
Menezes was named head coach of Brazil following the 2010 World Cup, but he struggled for results in tournaments that counted. The Brazilians were eliminated on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Copa America, and they lost to Mexico in the 2012 Olympic final.
Here are more stories from around the world of soccer:
STRUGGLING QPR FIRE HUGHES
Queens Park Rangers and Mark Hughes’ marriage has come to an end. QPR fired Hughes on Friday due to the club’s slow start to the Premiership campaign. Queens Park Rangers are currently in last place in the standings with four points from 12 games. Harry Redknapp is largely expected to be hired by QPR.
SIR ALEX FERGUSON STATUE UNVEILED
Sir Alex Ferguson will never be forgotten by Manchester United fans. Literally. United unveiled a bronze, nine-foot statue of Ferguson at Old Trafford on Friday, and former and current Red Devils players were on hand to witness it. Ferguson has captured 12 league titles in his 26 years in charge of United, making him the Premiership’s most successful manager.
SOUTH AFRICA SPENT $3 BILLION ON 2010 WORLD CUP
The 2010 World Cup may have been a grand spectacle, but it cost South Africa a pretty penny. According to a report released Friday by South Africa’s government, the country spent more than $3 billion to host the most recent World Cup. The final report from the tournament, which came almost two-and-a-half years after the conclusion of the 2010 World Cup, also said $1.1 billion was spent on building and upgrading stadiums alone.
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What do you think of Brazil’s decision to fire Menezes? Was QPR’s decision to part ways with Hughes long overdue? Should Ferguson’s statue have been made of gold?
Share your thoughts below.
Great! Another statue of a shady dictator. Live on ManureUNited!
Hughes is clearly not a good manager. He understands the game certainly, but if you can’t motivate the players to play and win as a team, what good are you? Never shoulda left Fulham- or Blackburn for that matter.
wait wait…he’ll end up at NYRB
I am amazed that South Africa spent so little. 3 Billion dollars is only twice what Metlife Stadium along cost.
Cost of labor, yo
When it comes to labor and construction costs in NY/NJ, there’s a certain surcharge that gets paid.
Probably worthy of its own post, but it seems there’s mutual interest in making Agudelo’s training stint with Celtic in to something much more permanent.
Scottish source w/direct quotes from Neil Lennon:
http://m.stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/celtic/202301-celtic-want-to-sign-juan-agudelo-after-impressing-neil-lennon-in-training/
Lennon wants to talk, Agudelo wants to talk, but does MLS?
I’m sure MLS will want to talk as well, given that Agudelo only has a year left on his contract and they don’t want to lose him for free.