Surprise choice as Brazil give Leao coach's job

The former international goalkeeper, Emerson Leão, was the surprise choice to take over as the new coach of the Brazilian national team yesterday.

The former international goalkeeper, Emerson Leão, was the surprise choice to take over as the new coach of the Brazilian national team yesterday.

Leão, who played for Brazil in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, replaces Wanderley Luxemburgo, who was sacked in September after a series of poor performances with both the senior and Olympic teams.

Known for having an explosive temperament that has led to clashes with players, officials and journalists, Leão takes over at a delicate time for Brazilian football. The national team, once considered invincible in South America, have recently lost World Cup qualifiers to Chile and Paraguay while the Under-23 Olympic team were knocked out in the quarter-finals in Sydney.

The domestic game, meanwhile, is in turmoil. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) failed to organise this year's Brazilian championship, and this week a Congressional inquiry was set in motion to investigate the contract between the CBF and the sportswear company Nike, which sponsors the national team.

The national team's prestige has fallen so much that Leão was only chosen after Luis Felipe Scolari turned the job down. Carlos Alberto Parreira and Oswaldo de Oliveira were also reported to have said no.

"I'm not entirely at ease on my first day," said the 51-year-old Leão, who was chosen by the new technical co-ordinator Antonio Lopes, as he faced a typically chaotic press conference. Leão seemed aware that his new job carries the aspirations of millions of football-mad Brazilians, who expect the four-times world champions to win every match and tournament they play, preferably with style.

Leão's playing career lasted for 24 years, with Palmeiras and Vasco da Gama among the clubs he played for, and he became a coach in 1987. He has coached several of Brazil's best-known clubs, including Santos, Atletico Mineiro, Gremio Porto Alegre and Internacional. He is currently in charge of Sport Recife.

He is known for getting good results but his teams have often been criticised for employing a rough, physical style. His first game in charge will be the World Cup qualifier at home to Colombia next month.