Jose Mourinho set to rival Carlo Ancelotti for Brazil national team job: Report

CBF has shortlisted four managers for the Selecao job.

After being placed on a four-man CBF shortlist, Jose Mourinho is reportedly expected to compete with Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid for the position of coach of the Brazil national team.

Dorival Junior was fired by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) after the Selecao suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat to bitter rivals Argentina in a recent World Cup qualifying match.

Fenerbahce manager Mourinho is reportedly one of four well-known candidates the CBF is considering to succeed Dorival and guide the Selecao in their attempt to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, according to Brazilian publication Globo.

Mourinho is joined by Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid, Jorge Jesus, the manager of Al Hilal, and Abel Ferreira, the coach of Palmeiras. The quartet is a combination of accomplished individuals from the South American club scene and seasoned European minds.

The CBF has always liked Ancelotti. Despite his brief consideration of managing Brazil, the Italian has made it clear that his current position at Real Madrid will be his last management position.

🚨 BREAKING: Brazil have fired Dorival Junior following 4-1 defeat vs Argentina.He’s no longer the head coach as Brazil are now looking for new manager with immediate effect. 💣🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/G9Nj2GxgUy

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 28, 2025

Jesus is currently seen to be the most likely possibility because of his prior Brazilian football experience at Flamengo and his more immediate availability, even though the CBF hasn’t given up entirely.

The time Mourinho has spent at Fenerbahce has not been decent. The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, and AS Roma manager has been courting controversy since coming to Istanbul eleven months ago. His frequent criticism of match referees has resulted in multiple touchline bans.

His team’s performance has suffered in recent weeks. Fenerbahce lost to their bitter rivals Galatasaray in the Turkish Cup and were eliminated from the UEFA Europa League by Rangers.

The pressure on Mourinho has increased as a result of these failures. His team is currently three points behind Galatasaray in the Turkish Super League standings.

Brazil present a unique and demanding opportunity. But it is unclear if Mourinho would be prepared to abandon his Fenerbahce project so quickly. In the club’s pursuit of Super Lig triumph, Sunday’s matchup with Sivasspor is another pivotal match. If the Portuguese manager defeats Galatasaray in the title race, he may even extend his stay in Istanbul.

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