Paulo Autuori, manager of Brazilian club Sao Paulo, has turned down an offer to become manager of Japanese club Kashima Antlers, Brazilian media said Tuesday.
Autuori had earlier admitted that the offer from the J. League club was a "temptation," and there were also rumors that J. League champions Gamba Osaka were in the hunt for him.
The coach steered Sao Paulo to the Club World Championship title in Japan with a 1-0 win over European champion Liverpool in the final in Yokohama on Dec. 18.
"He has analyzed proposals from abroad and has decided to stay," sports daily Lance quoted Sao Paulo chairman Marcelo Portugal as saying.