Brazil coach Tite handed new contract

First to be re-appointed after World Cup elimination since Claudio Coutinho in 1978

RIO DE JANEIRO: Tite was handed a new contract to remain as coach of the Brazil national team until 2022 on Wednesday despite their traumatic World Cup quarter-final exit in Russia, the Brazilian football federation (CBF) said.

"The CBF has renewed the contract with coach Tite until the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar," wrote the CBF on its website.

Tite is the first coach of the Brazil national team to be re-appointed after a World Cup elimination since Claudio Coutinho in 1978.



Brazil, with superstar Neymar in their ranks, were regarded as one of the favourites for the 2018 World Cup but they were knocked out in the last-eight, losing 2-1 to Belgium.



"The federation has given us the conditions to build an environment of unity and professionalism, it's a great challenge and we are happy to face it, already focused on our next matches and competitions," Tite said in a statement.

Tite's first challenge will be to win the Copa America in 2019 when Brazil hosts the tournament.

Brazil will begin their post-World Cup rehabilitation with a series of friendlies, the first of which is against the United States in New Jersey on September 7.

"The CBF is investing in a long-term project to guarantee the staff six-and-a-half-years in charge of La Selecao, and we believe that this careful planning will bring to Brazilian football the results we expect," said Rogerio Caboclo, the executive director of the CBF.