Brazilian Coaches Bemoan Player Exodus

• Reuters, Wednesday, December 19, 2007 3:45 PM

Reuters has interesting story on the tribulations of Brazilian coaches, who can see their plans for the season evaporate in an instant once the international transfer window opens. According to the Brazilian Soccer Federation (CBF), the country exported a record 1,085 professionals in 2007. Brazilians are in-demand in leagues across the globe, from the big three (England, Spain and Italy) to domestic league minnows like Guatemala, Surinam, Vietnam and Armenia.

The transfer windows in January and July come at a bad time for Brazilian clubs, whose season runs from mid-January to early December. As Atletico Paranaense coach Ney Franco explains, "No matter how much you work and plan in December, you always have the risk that two or three players you had counted on will not be there when pre-season training starts." Coaches are then faced with the same problem at mid-season.

The sad fact is that the Brazilian soccer dream has changed -- it no longer includes Brazil. Today, the boy is born and he dreams of becoming a footballer so he can turn professional and be sold to a club in Europe," says Alexandre Gallo, coach of first division Figueirense. It is, of course, a matter of money. Brazilian players command higher salaries abroad than they do in their own country -- an interesting juxtaposition considering Brazil's booming economy. Corruption at the top and the stifling bureaucratic structure of Brazilian clubs are often cited as main reasons why the Brazilian league fails to compete on the world soccer market.

Read the whole story at Reuters »