Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Peru hires former Brazil coach Mano Menezes to guide men’s national team

Peru hires former Brazil coach Mano Menezes to guide men's national team | iNFOnews.ca
CORRECTS SPELLING OF MENEZES - Brazil's Mano Menezes speaks after being presented as the coach of Peru's national soccer team in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Former Brazil coach Mano Menezes has been appointed as the new coach of Peru’s national team, the Peruvian soccer federation said Thursday.

The 63-year-old Menezes replaces Oscar Ibañez, who was fired after the team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

“We know that the last few years haven’t been so brilliant in terms of results, but we are here because we can do something to get back on track so that Peru can once again be a leading player,” Menezes said.

The Brazilian’s last job was with Gremio where he spent eight months and guided them to a ninth-place finish in the Brazilian championship to secure a spot in the 2026 Copa Sudamericana.

Menezes managed the Brazilian national team between 2010 and 2012. During his tenure, Brazil fell to 14th place in the FIFA rankings, its lowest ever.

Menezes has also managed other prominent Brazilian clubs, including Fluminense, Corinthians, Flamengo, Cruzeiro, and Palmeiras. Outside of Brazil, he has coached Shandong Luneng in China and Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Peru also missed the 2022 World Cup. It qualified for the 2018 edition in Russia.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Peru hires former Brazil coach Mano Menezes to guide men's national team | iNFOnews.ca
CORRECTS SPELLING OF MENEZES – Brazil’s Mano Menezes, center, holds a Peruvian national team jersey with Peru’s Football Federation President Agustin Lozano, left, and Sports Manager Juan Jean Ferrari, after being presented as the team’s new coach, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Peru hires former Brazil coach Mano Menezes to guide men's national team | iNFOnews.ca
CORRECTS SPELLING OF MENEZES – Brazil’s Mano Menezes holds a Peruvian national soccer team jersey after being presented as the team’s coach in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles