November 23, 2012
SACKED
Report: Brazil fires national coach Menezes

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- It seems no soccer coach is safe from the firing line these days, and that includes the coach of the host team of the 2014 World Cup.

Brazil coach Mano Menezes has been fired on Friday, according to Brazil's Globo TV network.

Globo said an official announcement would be made by the Brazilian Football Confederation later on Friday.

A new Brazilian coach will be named in early January, Globo TV reported.

Menezes was under fire after he failed to lead Brazil to its first Olympic gold medal at the London Summer Games. The favorited Brazilians lost to Mexico in the gold-medal match at Wembley, 2-1.

The confederation had made winning that elusive gold medal a top priority. In fact, it was surprising that Menezes had not been sacked after the Olympics in August.

Under Menezes' guidance, Brazil also failed to win Copa America in 2011.