[2] He coached the Brazil national football team during the South American Qualifying to the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

He often criticised players, managers and teams, and was a member of then-illegal Brazilian Communist Party (Partido Comunista Brasileiro – PCB).

It is alleged that football federation president João Havelange appointed him in the hope that journalists would be less critical of the national team if one of their own was in charge.

Saldanha was said to have fallen out of favour because of his unwillingness to select players who were personal favourites of President Emílio Garrastazu Médici, in particular striker Dario (Brazil was then a military dictatorship).

[7] Botafogo Starting from 2004, the winners of the second turn of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, are awarded with the "Troféu João Saldanha", given by the Brazilian newspaper Lance!.