RIO DE JANEIRO - Dorival Junior has been sacked as manager of Brazil's national team following a humiliating defeat to Argentina, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Friday.

The entity said the search for a replacement had already begun, with former Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus and Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti among the frontrunners.

"The Brazilian Football Confederation informs that coach Dorival Junior will no longer be in charge of the Brazilian national team," CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues told reporters in a statement.

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"The board thanks the professional and wishes him success in the continuation of his career. The CBF will now work to find a replacement."

Rodrigues said that assistant coaches Lucas Silvestre and Pedro Sotero, as well as physical trainer Celso Resende, had also left their positions.

Dorival, who took over from Fernando Diniz in January last year, led Brazil to seven wins, seven draws and two losses.

Confirmation of the 62-year-old's dismissal came less than three days after Brazil suffered a 4-1 World Cup qualifying loss to arch-rival Argentina in Buenos Aires.

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The result left Brazil fourth in the 10-team South American qualifying group, 10 points behind leader Argentina with four match days remaining.

The top six teams will automatically qualify for football's showpiece tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada next year. The seventh-ranked side will advance to an intercontinental playoff.