Tite bows out as Brazil’s coach after World Cup defeat to Croatia

Tite has stepped down from his position as head coach of Brazil after the South American team’s shock exit from the 2022 World Cup.

Though Brazil was the pre-tournament favourites, they crashed out of the tournament after a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in a quarterfinal match on Friday, December 9.

61-year-old Tite who has been in charge of Brazil’s national team since 2016, had previously made it no secret that he would leave the position after the tournament in Qatar, regardless of the outcome.

Addressing reporters after the defeat to Croatia, he said;

“A painful defeat, but I’m at peace with myself. It’s the end of my cycle. I already decided this over a year and a half ago. I’m not a two-faced guy. I wasn’t playing to win and then making drama to stay, anybody who knows me knows that.

“It was a whole process. Before, it was a recovery process, but now it had a whole sequel.”

When asked about his performance as Brazil manager, Tite responded:

“Only time will tell.

“The pain, however human, I may have… the emotions are high. I’m not in a position to evaluate all the work carried out. Over time, you will make this assessment, I don’t have that ability now after an elimination.”

Tite had already overseen a quarter-final exit at the hands of Belgium at the last World Cup in Russia four years ago.

In between, Brazil won the Copa America on home soil in 2019 but then lost the final of that tournament as hosts to Argentina last year.