Vuvuzela South Africa

Carlos Alberto Parreira is the new coach for the South African National Soccer Team. After two weeks of rumours and denials, the South African Football Association (SAFA) made the announcement just after 7pm at OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg.

During this Bafana coach fiasco, it seemed all that the loyal and passionate supporters were agreed upon, is that they were happy that Joel Santana was out of the picture.

Most South African fans have been calling for a local coach – Clive Barker, Gordon Igesund, Gavin Hunt or even Pitso. Nobody wanted another Brazilian coach.

Bafana’s Only Coach

But it seemed that the die was cast long before Joel Santana even stepped down. Remember when Safa and Santana were denying that Pappa Joel was leaving? Remember that this voice of Parreira drifted across the ocean from Brazil saying that he was standing ready to step into the position IF he was the only coach?

So Who is Carlos Alberto Parreira?

Carlos Alberto Gomes Parreira was born February 27, 1943, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Parreira supports Fluminense, and he has won two important League titles for the club: The First Division Brazilian Championship in 1984 and the Third Division in 1999.

Parreira is noted for having been one of only two coaches that has led four national teams to the World Cup: Kuwait in 1982, United Arab Emirates in 1990, Brazil in 1994 and 2006, and Saudi Arabia in 1998. The other coach, Bora Milutinovic, surpassed this record when he led a fifth team in 2002. He was also involved to some extent with the 1970 championship team for Brazil, which he claims was an inspiration for him to aspire to be a national football coach.

FIFA World Cup Matches Record

Parreira has coached national squads in 21 games in FIFA World Cup competition. Parreira’s coaching record is 10-4-8 (Wins-Draws-Losses). His teams have scored 27 goals and conceded 29.

Interview with Carlos Alberto Parreira on Fifa Website

Photo: Carlos Alberto Parreira deposintonaweb

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