RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Carlos Alberto Parreira quit as coach of Brazil on Wednesday, three weeks after his team was eliminated by France in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

The coach of Brazil's national soccer team, Carlos Alberto Parreira, listens to a question during a press conference after a training session in Weggis, central Switzerland, in this June 1 2006 photo. Parreira quit as coach of Brazil on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, three weeks after the team was stunned 1-0 by France and eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. [AP]

Parreira wants to rest and spend time with his family after four years at the helm of the five-time World Cup champions, the Brazil Soccer Confederation (CBF) said.

Parreira will "no longer have a professional link with the Brazilian Soccer Confederation," the CBF said.

Parreira guided Brazil to its fourth Cup title in 1994. His team was laden with all-stars this year, making it a favorite to win the World Cup.

But the team looked lethargic in its early wins against Croatia, Australia, Japan and Ghana. In the quarterfinal lost to France, which beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 Cup final, Thierry Henry scored the lone goal and sent Brazil home.

The Brazil confederation did not immediately name a replacement for Parreira. The club will play Norway in a friendly game on Aug. 16 in Oslo.