RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Carlos Alberto Parreira quit as coach of Brazil on Wednesday, three weeks after the team was stunned 1-0 by France and eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Parreira said he wanted to rest and spend time with his family after four years in charge of the five-time World Cup champions, the Brazil soccer confederation said in a statement.
Parreira, who coached Brazil to its fourth Cup title in 1994, had a roster laden with All-Stars, making his team a strong favorite to win the World Cup.
But the team looked lethargic in its early wins against Croatia, Australia, Japan and Ghana -- none of them soccer powers. In a quarterfinal match against France, which beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 Cup final, Thierry Henry scored the lone goal and sent Brazil home early.
The Brazilian soccer confederation did not immediately name a replacement for Parreira. The club is to face Norway in an exhibition match in Oslo on Aug. 16.
Parreira said he wanted to rest and spend time with his family after four years in charge of the five-time World Cup champions, the Brazil soccer confederation said in a statement.
Parreira, who coached Brazil to its fourth Cup title in 1994, had a roster laden with All-Stars, making his team a strong favorite to win the World Cup.
But the team looked lethargic in its early wins against Croatia, Australia, Japan and Ghana -- none of them soccer powers. In a quarterfinal match against France, which beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 Cup final, Thierry Henry scored the lone goal and sent Brazil home early.
The Brazilian soccer confederation did not immediately name a replacement for Parreira. The club is to face Norway in an exhibition match in Oslo on Aug. 16.