Portugal coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari
Big Phil, 59, made his name as a disciplinarian coach in his native Brazil, steering Gremio to win the 1995 Libertadores Cup and repeating the feat with Palmeiras in 1999.
Appointed Brazil coach in 2001 and guided them to World Cup triumph in 2002. He then took the Portugal job and steered the team to the Final of Euro 2004 and the World Cup semi-finals.
Was close to replacing Sven Goran Eriksson as England coach in 2006 but was said to be uncomfortable about media attention. Instead, he extended his contract with Portugal until this summer.
After the finals he is expected to seek a job with a European club.
How far can Portugal go at the finals?
We plan on going a long way. We are more confident about our potential than ever. It has taken a lot of work to develop the right attitude. Now we are very strong mentally. Qualifying for the finals was not easy but we made it. A few years back I think the team would not have reacted. I think finishing as runners-up in 2004 had a positive effect.
But wasn’t losing to outsiders Greece and as hosts a massive disappointment?
I think mass depression is the best description. But this is football and you take away important lessons from every game. Even getting as far as we did was an important step for Portugal on the way to becoming a more competitive team, a team capable of reaching more final matches. I was content we had done a good job and that there would be more good things ahead.
Presumably, a good European campaign would be an ideal springboard for the next World Cup.
Of course. It’s always tricky, that period between two major finals – especially for the coach. You have to be positive and not be nervous about making changes or bringing through young players. It’s a balancing act. You exchange a certain amount of experience, which is valuable, for the hunger and talent that is emerging. You can see that in my work here. I think only three or four of the players who were with us in Korea and Japan in 2002 will be in Austria and Switzerland.
Can you win the title in June?
I think we can reach the Final even though that will involve beating some very difficult opponents along the way, not only in the knockout stages but also in the group. No team is going just to make up the numbers. Everyone wants to go all the way to the Final, not only us.
You have been Portugal coach now for well over five years. Before that you managed Brazil and won a World Cup. Is being a national team coach better or easier than being a club coach?
You cannot call being a coach easy at any level. It’s a good job, yes, but it carries enormous responsibility. Sometimes it’s as if it is bigger than being a prime minister or president because more people talk about football than talk about politics, healthcare or the economy. Of course, you have a good job if you’re a national coach, but to get it you have to work hard and achieve lots of good results.
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