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Tite announced as new Brazil manager following Dunga's departure

Tite has been officially appointed the new manager of Brazil, the Brazilian federation has announced.

The ex-Corinthians manager, who last week was tipped to succeed former national team boss Dunga by club president Roberto de Andrade, was confirmed by the Brazilian federation on Monday.

"It's official! Tite is the coach of the Brazilian national team,'' read a statement on the federation's website.

"On Monday afternoon, Adenor Leonardo Bacchi was officially presented as the new commander of Canarinho.''

Tite, whose given name is Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, had led the Sao Paulo giants to two Brazilian championships, a Copa Libertadores and Club World Cup crowns over his two successful spells with the club.

The 55-year-old Rio Grande do Sul native had been considered the most suitable Brazilian candidate to take the reins from Dunga, and had been a longtime target of CBF. 

Dunga and national team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi were dismissed following Brazil's controversial exit in the group stages of the Copa America Centenario last week.

"Now the time has come, I understood that I should accept being coach of the Brazilian national team and that should be part of my career,'' Tite said at his introductory news conference.

"It's a personal goal and perhaps my best professional moment."

Brazil's elimination in the competition came a year after falling in the quarterfinals to Paraguay at the 2015 Copa America in Chile -- also under Dunga's watch.

Tite inherits a Brazil who are sixth in South American World Cup qualifying, one spot out of the qualification zone. He said his focus is on getting Brazil to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.

"The focus is the qualification for the World Cup and we are not in the qualification zone," he said. "There is the risk [of being out]. If you don't accept that, you will be fighting against reality.

"I am here because unfortunately the results did not come. But there is a potential for us to grow and aim for a spot."

In 2015, Tite signed a petition for the removal of federation president Marco Polo Del Nero, who can be arrested if he travels outside Brazil amid accusations of involvement in the FIFA scandal unveiled last year.

Tite, who will be joined at the national team by his son, Matheus Bacchi, as well as the club's former director of football, and longtime Arsenal midfielder, Edu Gaspar, didn't try to defend Del Nero against the accusations, instead focusing on his own job.

"The invitation is to be Brazil's coach. It is the best way for me to help with my life principals of transparency, democratization, excellence and modernity," he said. "I think it has to be like that in every area."

He also indicated that Barcelona star Neymar won't continue as permanent captain. Tite's teams usually make a rotation for that role and he said that is "the ideal for a team."

Asked about the playing style he wants to implement, he said there will be a lot of overlapping, passing and organization.

"The team doesn't need to have Tite's face, it needs to have Brazil's face," he said. "It is individual skills allied to quality as a team."

Tite's first challenges as Brazil coach will be in September in World Cup qualifiers. His debut will be against Ecuador away on Sep. 2. Four days later his team will host Colombia in Manaus.

The Associated Press and Press Association contributed to the report.

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