NEYMAR has posted an emotional open letter to outgoing Brazil boss Tite.
Tite, 61, left his role as manager following the shock quarter-final defeat to Croatia.
The five-time champions crashed out of the World Cup after losing 4-2 on penalties.
And superstar Neymar posted a heartfelt tribute to the gaffer on Instagram on Monday.
The 30-year-old wrote: “Before we met in person, we played a lot against and let me tell you, I thought you were really annoying!
“Because you put together a team to mark me, you would do everything to beat me and you still spoke ill of me. But destiny is funny, huh? Put you as my coach and me as your number 10.
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“I knew you as a coach and I already knew you were very good but as a person you are MUCH BETTER!
“You met me and you know who i am and that’s what matters to me….
“I come here to openly thank you for everything, all the teachings you’ve given us… and there were so many.
“You will always be one of the best coaches I’ve ever had or will have, I will always lift you up.
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“We had beautiful moments but we also had moments that hurt us a lot and the latter will hurt us for a long time. You deserved to be crowned with this cup.
“We all deserved it for everything we did and for everything we gave up to try to achieve our biggest dream. But God didn’t want it that way, patience. God has given us EVERYTHING!
“Thank you, professor Tite, for all the learnings.. and if there is a phrase that I will never forget is ‘MENTALLY STRONG’ and we will have to be VERY in that moment!
“A big hug and THANK YOU.”
Tite led Brazil to the quarters at the 2018 World Cup where his side lost to Belgium.
They won the Copa America in 2019 before reaching the final again last year, only to suffer defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Argentina.
And Tite has now decided to step down following a six-year reign.
In doing so he became the sixth World Cup manager to leave his post after exiting the competition.
Mexico and manager Gerardo Martinez parted ways following their shock group stage exit, with Roberto Martinez suffering the same fate at Belgium.
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Ghana gaffer Otto Addo also left his post, while Spain sacked Luis Enrique following their last-16 penalty shoot-out defeat to Morocco.
While South Korea manager Paulo Bento also planned to stand down at the end of the tournament and did so after being thrashed 4-1 by Tite’s Brazil.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
