Leonardo tipped to become new Brazil coach

Brasilia, July 7

Former AC Milan coach Leonardo was tipped on Tuesday to replace Carlos Dunga as Brazil coach, according to ESPN Brazil. The television network quoted unnamed sources as saying that an agreement between Leonardo and Brazilian football federation (CBF) boss Ricardo Teixeira was at the "90 per cent" stage. Like Dunga, Leonardo is a former national team player with limited coaching experience.

Leonardo was at helm of Milan for just one season. The sides agreed to go separate ways in May after a see-saw Serie A season saw them finish in third place, behind city rivals Inter Milan and Roma.

Dunga was fired soon after Brazil were eliminated from the World Cup with their loss to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

Unlike Dunga, however, "Leonardo has a good relationship with the press and would not create as much friction," ESPN wrote on its website. Former national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was in charge of the Brazil team that won the World Cup in 2002, has also been linked to the job.

Scolari, however, has already indicated that his club commitments with Brazilian team Palmeiras would prevent him from becoming the national team coach for the next two years. — DPA