Brazil considering Pep Guardiola as new manager?

The five-time World Cup winners were regarded as the favourites to go all the way in Qatar, but their run ended with defeat to Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Following Brazil's elimination, Tite immediately announced his departure from the national team, telling the press: "My cycle is over. I said it over a year and a half ago and I keep to my word.

"We shouldn't make a drama out of it as I said this one and half years ago. There are other great professionals that can replace me. There could be elements to analyse but the cycle is over."

The search for a successor to the 61-year-old is now underway, and according to Sport, Guardiola has emerged as a standout candidate for the Brazilian Football Confederation.

The report claims that the CBF will touch base with Guardiola in the coming days, and president Ednaldo Rodrigues will conduct the operation to find Tite's successor by himself.

Rodrigues reportedly wants to know what Guardiola's plans are in the short and medium term, and he is not giving up hope of bringing the Catalan coach to South America at the end of the season.

The CBF are willing to break their tradition of only hiring Brazilian managers, although Guardiola only signed a new contract at Manchester City until 2025 at the end of November.

Brazil are not expected to make a firm decision on their new manager until early next year, and the CBF are understood to have drawn up a list of alternative targets should Guardiola prove unattainable.

Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli headlines the list, while Palmeiras' Abel Ferreira, Sao Paulo's Rogerio Ceni, Fluminense Fernando Diniz and Gremio's Renato Portaluppi are also being considered.

Guardiola departed Bayern Munich in 2016 to make the move to Man City, and the 51-year-old has won a total of 11 trophies during his six-year spell in charge, including four Premier League titles.

The former Barcelona boss spoke of his pride at signing a new deal at the Etihad last month, telling mancity.com: "I am so pleased to be staying at Manchester City for another two years.

"I can't say thank you enough to everyone at the club for trusting me. I am happy and comfortable here. I have everything I need to do my job as best as possible.

"I know the next chapter of this club will be amazing for the next decade. It happened over the last ten years, and it will happen in the next ten years because this club is so stable.

"From day one I felt something special being here. I cannot be in a better place. I still have the feeling there is more we can achieve together and that is why I want to stay and continue fighting for trophies."

Meanwhile, Tite - who also took the Brazil job in the summer of 2016 - departs the Selecao after winning 61, drawing 13 and losing seven of his 81 games in charge, and he won one trophy in the form of the 2019 Copa America.