Carlos Alberto Parreira

Carlos Alberto Parreira was born in Rio de Janeiro on 27 February 1943, becoming Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning coach. His route into elite football began through physical education, rather than a professional playing career, a background that distinguished him. In 1967, he joined Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Silva's staff in Ghana, beginning a career that repeatedly crossed national borders. Parreira managed Kuwait at the 1982 World Cup, its first finals appearance, after leading the team through Asian qualifying successfully. He later took the United Arab Emirates to the 1990 World Cup, another first appearance in football's principal international tournament. Brazil first appointed him national coach in 1983, although he left after the team lost the 1983 Copa America final. In 1991, Brazil's federation selected Parreira again, pairing him with Mario Zagallo before the United States finals began in 1994. His Brazil side recovered from the 1990 World Cup disappointment and qualified for the finals unbeaten in South American qualifying. At the tournament, Romario and Bebeto provided decisive goals, while captain Dunga anchored a notably disciplined Brazilian team tactically organized. Brazil beat Italy 3-2 on penalties after a goalless final at Pasadena's Rose Bowl, securing its fourth World Cup title. The result made Parreira the first Brazilian coach to win the World Cup since Mario Zagallo in 1970 in Mexico. His club jobs included Fluminense, Valencia, Fenerbahce, and Corinthians alongside international work with Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Kuwait too. At club level, he won Brazil's 2002 Copa dos Campeoes with Corinthians, earning qualification for the following Copa Libertadores campaign. In 2003, he returned to Brazil and won the Copa America in Peru, defeating Argentina 4-2 on penalties in Lima. Brazil then won the 2005 Confederations Cup, beating Argentina 4-1 in the final at Frankfurt's Waldstadion, under Parreira's direction again. His 2006 World Cup Brazil team entered as a favorite but lost 1-0 to France in the quarterfinals in Frankfurt. Parreira coached South Africa at the 2010 World Cup, the first tournament staged on African soil, after returning in 2009. South Africa defeated France 2-1 in Bloemfontein but exited in the group stage on goal difference behind Mexico and Uruguay. Across six World Cups with five national teams, Parreira established a record for coaching different countries on football's largest stage. After coaching, he served as Brazil's 2014 World Cup technical coordinator, leaving the post following the team's 7-1 semifinal defeat.