On paper, Brazil is the strongest team in the 2022 Fifa World Cup, and their stars have vowed to give coach Tite a magnificent farewell by winning the tournament.
Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002 in Korea/Japan. No matter the outcome for Brazil at Qatar 2022, Tite will leave the post he has occupied since September 2016, when the tournament finishes.
The hope for both Tite and his players is that they have seven matches left together, specifically that they reach the final in Lusail Stadium on December 18.
Brazil begin their campaign at the final venue against Serbia on Thursday, and have subsequent Group G encounters with Cameroon and Switzerland.
Born Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, the 61-year-old Tite kicked off his impressive Selecao tenure with a 3-0 defeat of Ecuador in Quito during the qualifiers for Russia 2018. That was the first of the 57 wins the South Americans have recorded in his 76 games in charge.
Tite has lost only five matches during his six-year tenure. That record reveals exactly why he has been entrusted to oversee successive World Cup campaigns, the first Brazil coach to have that honour since Mario Zagallo tried to defend the title won in Mexico in 1970 at the German tournament four years later.
So what is the secret to Tite’s success?
The simple answer to that it is an inherent desire to keep pushing his team for improvement, regardless of their impressive results. The pace at which Tite’s team plays is essential to that sustained development.
Tite’s Seleção like to stretch the play and probe down the flanks, giving influential attacker Neymar more space in which to roam in the middle of the pitch.
FIFA+ spoke to some of Tite’s charges, who had only praise for the outgoing coach and are desperately keen to give their professor a golden send-off.
Fred: “He’s a great coach and the most important thing I’ve learned from him has to do with his human touch, the kind of person he is. He’s a lovely guy who treats everyone the same way, from the keeper to the kitman. He’s really attentive. Above all, he’s someone we love to have around, because of the joy that is in him.”
Bruno Guimaraes: He’s a very intelligent guy and has real tactical insight and knowledge, more than a lot of coaches I’ve worked with in Europe.
Raphinha: I wouldn’t be here without him. He’s become very important for me, not just for what he passes on to me whenever I’m with Selecao, but for what I can take away with me to my club. He’s given me a lot of confidence and the tools I need to keep those confidence levels as high as possible.
Richarlison: “Tite’s like a father to us. I’m talking about being brave, smart, and tactically disciplined. Whether we like it or not, it’s his last World Cup and we’re going to do all we can for him to bow out with a smile on his face.”
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