Ex-skipper Dunga to coach Brazil

Rio De Janeiro: Dunga, a former World Cup champion with no coaching experience, was announced as the new manager of the Brazil's national team on Monday, surprisingly chosen over candidates such as Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Paulo Autuori.

Dunga, captain of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winners, replaces Carlos Alberto Parreira, who quit after Brazil was eliminated by France in the quarter-finals of this year's World Cup in Germany.

"I want to bring to the Brazilian team the same desire I had as a player," Dunga said on the confederation's website. "Emotion, desire and will to win are indispensable when you wear the Brazil team jersey."

Those were the qualities that made Dunga a leader on Brazil's Internacional and at Italy's Pisa, Fiorentina and Pescara. He also played for Germany's Stuttgart before finishing his career with Japan's Jubilo Iwata.

Dunga will make his coaching debut in a friendly against Norway on August 16 in Oslo.

The choice surprised many Brazilians, who thought Brazilian soccer confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira would select among a number of coaching veterans like former national team manager Luxemburgo of Santos, or Autuori, who guided Sao Paulo to the Copa Libertadores and Club World Championship last year.

Teixeira said the choice of Dunga was part of a total restructuring of the team with an eye to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2014 championship, which Brazil hopes to host.

"The choice of Dunga will fully satisfy the desires of Brazilian fans who want an enthusiastic coach on the national team," Teixeira said on the CBF's website.

The decision to revamp the team follows Brazil's disappointing play in this year's World Cup.

Parreira, who coached Brazil to its title in 1994, had a roster laden with stars, making it the oddsmakers' favorite to win the World Cup.

But the team looked lethargic and was outplayed by France -- an old nemesis that beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final.

In the quarter-finals, France's Thierry Henry scored the lone goal and sent Brazil home early.

Dunga was a tough defensive midfielder who started for Brazil in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, when Brazil played poorly and was eliminated early by Argentina.

Brazilians disillusioned with their team dubbed the epoch the "Dunga Era," a dismissive reference to his tenacious but unartful style of play.

Still, Dunga's solid defence and leadership impressed coach Parreira, who chose him captain of the squad that -- with Bebeto and Romario carrying the offense -- won a fourth title in 1994.

It was Brazil's first World Cup win in 24 years, and Dunga regained the good graces of fans.