Parreira Returns To South Africa Bench
Brazilian Coach Re-Hired To Lead Bafana Bafana At 2010 World Cup
Oct 29, 2009
The predecessor turned into the successor as successful Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was brought back to the South African national football team bench to lead the Bafana Bafana at the 2010 World Cup. Parreira guided the Brazil national team to the 1994 and 2002 World Cup crowns.
Stepping Down For Personal Reasons
The 66-year-old Parreira was called upon to coach the South African national team starting in February 2007 to prepare for the 2010 World Cup, to be played in South Africa. But after nine wins, six draws and six defeats, he stepped down for personal reasons in April 2008 to return to Brazil to care for his ill wife.
No Success For Joel Santana
Parreira was replaced by Joel Santana, who could not build upon his Brazilian compatriot’s success. Under Santana, the Bafana Bafana lost eight of nine matches and the South African Football Association elected to sack Santana on October 19, 2009.
Parreira Unsuccessful At Fluminense
Parreira spent four months early in 2009 coaching at Brazilian club Fluminense with any particular success. But the coach will forever be remembered and revered for winning the Brazilian third division title in 1999 with a financially-strapped Fluminense club which was close to extinction.
Parreira Re-Hired
And on October 23, 2009 Parreira was reappointed as South Africa head coach over local candidates such as Gavin Hunt and Clive Parker.
Big Win Against Paraguay
A month before stepping down in 2008, Parreira guided South Africa to an impressive 3-0 victory over Paraguay in a friendly in Pretoria, South Africa. It was the first time in 10 attempts that the Bafana Bafana defeated a South American side since South Africa was readmitted into international football in 1992.
Past Experience
Parreira returns to South Africa as a very experienced coach. He was national team coach for Kuwait at the 1982 World Cup, gaining a 1-1 draw against Czechoslovakia. At the 1990 World Cup, Parreira was boss at the United Arab Emirates, who lost all three games. He also coached Saudi Arabia at the 1998 World Cup. Among his other stops were the Ghana national team in 1967, clubs such as Fenerbahce, Valencia and the MetroStars of MLS.
1994 World Cup Crown
Parreira’s crowning achievement though was the 1994 World Cup, where he guided Brazil to their fourth championship in the United States.
2006 World Cup Disappointment
Parreira returned to take over the Brazilian national team for the 2006 World Cup and went to Germany as the favorites. But the Selecao were beaten 1-0 by France in the quarterfinals. And Parreira was criticized by Brazilian fans and media for playing an outdated brand of football. The coach eventually resigned on July 19, 2006.
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