Dorival Júnior

Dorival Silvestre Júnior (born 25 April 1962) is a Brazilian professional football coach and former player who played as a defensive midfielder.

He is the current head coach of the Brazil national team.

Known only as Júnior during his playing days, he was born in Araraquara, São Paulo, and made his debuts as a senior with hometown's Ferroviária in 1982.

Two years later, after a brief stint at Marília (club he also represented in the youth setup), he moved to Guarani.

In 1985, Júnior began playing in the state of Santa Catarina, first for Avaí and later for Joinville.

In 1988, he went back to his native state, representing São José, but during the same year he moved to Coritiba.

In 1989 Júnior joined Palmeiras, remaining with the club until 1992.

In the following year he was sold to Grêmio, and subsequently joined Juventude in 1994.

Júnior had subsequent spells at Araçatuba, Matonense and Botafogo-SP, retiring with the latter.

After retiring, Júnior immediately started working as an assistant of Luiz Carlos Ferreira at Matonense in 1999.

He followed Ferreirão to the likes of Inter de Limeira, Atlético Sorocaba, Guarani, Paulista and Santo André, always as his assistant.

In April 2002, while an assistant coach at Figueirense, Júnior was named head coach of his first club Ferroviária.

He left in May of that year to return to Figueirense, as a director of football.

In September 2003, Júnior was named head coach of Figueira in the place of Ferreira.

He won the 2004 Campeonato Catarinense with the side, but was sacked on 20 December of that year.

Three days after leaving Figueirense, Júnior was appointed Fortaleza head coach, replacing Zetti.

He was dismissed on 30 March, after a 2–2 draw against rivals Ceará.

In May 2005, Júnior took over Criciúma, but left the club on 8 July after accepting an offer from Juventude.

He was dismissed from the latter on 29 July, after just four matches.

On 8 November 2005, Júnior agreed to become Sport Recife's head coach for the upcoming season.

He won the 2006 Campeonato Pernambucano, but was relieved from his duties on 15 August, being subsequently replaced by Givanildo Oliveira.

On 6 September 2006, Júnior was appointed Avaí head coach.

He left the club on 17 October to take over São Caetano, but was unable to avoid relegation from the top tier.

On 8 May 2007, after impressing with the Azulão during that year's Campeonato Paulista, when the club reached the finals, Júnior was named Cruzeiro head coach.

On 3 December, despite finishing fifth, he was fired.

On 4 January 2008, Júnior was presented as head coach of another club he represented as a player, Coritiba.

On 13 November, he announced he would depart the club at the end of the campaign.

After not renewing contract with Coxa, Júnior was appointed at the helm of Vasco da Gama on 12 December 2008.

He led the club to a promotion from the 2009 Série B, but still announced his departure on 27 November 2009, after failing to agree new terms.

On 5 December 2009, Júnior was named head coach of Santos.

He led the club to the 2010 Campeonato Paulista and 2010 Copa do Brasil titles (with an historical 10–0 win over Naviraiense in the latter tournament) with an extremely offensive football, with Neymar, Paulo Henrique Ganso and Robinho as its key units.

On 15 September 2010, Júnior had an altercation with Neymar during a 4–2 home win over Atlético Goianiense; after suffering a penalty, Neymar demanded to take the spot kick, but was told by Júnior that Marcel was the one who would take it.

Despite Marcel's goal, the discussion between the player and the coach remained, with Neymar later refusing to pass the ball to Marcel in the match.

On 21 September 2010, it was reported that Júnior would keep Neymar out of the upcoming match against Corinthians as a punishment for his indiscipline actions.

Just hours later, however, he was dismissed.

On 25 September 2010, just four days after leaving Santos, Júnior took over Atlético Mineiro, replacing Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

He managed to avoid relegation with the club, but was sacked the following 7 August, after being knocked out of the 2011 Copa do Brasil and losing the 2011 Campeonato Mineiro.

On 12 August 2011, Júnior was named at the helm of Internacional.

He won the 2012 Campeonato Gaúcho, and despite struggling with the absence of key players Oscar and Leandro Damião to the 2012 Summer Olympics, he was dismissed on 20 July 2012.

Five days after leaving Inter, Júnior took over Flamengo.