Rio de Janeiro Oct 22 (IANS) Former Brazil national football team coach Mano Menezes has signed a deal to continue as coach of Cruzeiro until December 2019.
The Belo Horizonte club beat off competition from reigning Brazilian Serie A champions Palmeiras who offered Menezes a lucrative deal to join the Sao Paulo outfit next season reports Xinhua news agency.
"He is a victorious coach and he is a part of our plans for the next few years with a focus on winning the Copa Libertadores in the short term " Cruzeiro director of football Itair Machado said.
Menezes who coached Brazil from July 2010 to November 2012 joined Cruzeiro in July 2016 replacing former Portugal manager Paulo Bento.
The 55-year-old guided Cruzeiro to victory over Flamengo in the Copa do Brasil final last month earning them a berth in next year s Copa Libertadores South America s top club competition.
Cruzeiro are currently fifth in Brazil s 20-team Serie A standings with nine matches remaining in the season.
--IANS
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