RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil named Dunga as their manager for the second time on Tuesday, two weeks after they were hammered 7-1 by Germany in the World Cup semi-finals which led to the resignation of former coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The 50-year-old Dunga, who captained Brazil to their fourth world title in 1994, was last in charge of the national team in 2010 when he was sacked for failing to take them further than the World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa.

“I am immensely happy to be back,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) headquarters in suburban Rio de Janeiro.

“The fans are very down right now but they are right behind the team,” Dunga continued. “I am not here to sell a dream, we must get down to work.”

Dunga, who played for a host of clubs in Brazil, Japan, Germany and Italy, was known for his combative midfield style as a player and led Brazil to their fourth World Cup in the United States in 1994.

He was appointed Brazil manager for the first time in 2006 having replaced Carlos Alberto Parreira despite having no dugout experience but although he won both the 2007 Copa America and the 2009 Confederations Cup, his team crumbled when they went behind to the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals and lost 2-1.

Dunga was in charge of 60 matches as national team coach in his first stint. Brazil won 42, drew 12 and lost six.

“He has shown his capacity to lead the Brazil team, not only in words but also in numbers, that he has all the requisites and the capacity to lead the Brazil team again,” CBF president Jose Maria Marin said.

“It was a decision made with the participation of everyone here at this table in a show of unity and total integration aimed at great conquests in the future.”

Brazil suffered one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history at home this month after they lost their semi-final to eventual champions Germany.

Many said it was worse than Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Uruguay in the final game of the 1950 World Cup, which was played at the Maracana Stadium in Rio.

The loss against Germany broke several records and was one of the worst in Brazil’s history. The loss was also the first in a competitive match at home since 1975.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd , 2014