Former Brazil manager Tite has announced that he is taking a break from football to focus on his mental and physical health.
The 63-year-old, who won the Copa America with Brazil in 2019, was taken to hospital last August due to a heart issue. He was sacked by Flamengo a month later and had recently been linked with a return to Corinthians.
In a statement shared on his son Matheus Bachi’s Instagram page on Tuesday, Tite said:
“I’ve come to understand that as a human being, I can be vulnerable, and admitting that will actually make me stronger. I love what I do and always will, but after speaking with my family and noticing the signs my body was giving me, I’ve decided it’s best to step away from my career for now and take time to look after myself.”
He added that although he had been in talks with Corinthians about taking over, those discussions are now on hold because of this “difficult but necessary” decision.
Tite stepped down as Brazil’s head coach after their 2022 World Cup quarter-final exit. Before managing the national team, he coached several top Brazilian clubs, including Grêmio, Atlético Mineiro, and Palmeiras.
