Brazil’s World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been appointed the new coach of Portugal.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed his appointment on its website yesterday and Scolari is expected to sign a contract up to and including the EURO 2004 finals, to be held in Portugal.
FPF president Gilberto Madai told A Bola: “I knew that I had to get the best for the Portuguese team and I really don’t think I could have got any better than the world champion himself.”
Scolari, who resigned after leading Brazil to World Cup success in the summer, was delighted with his appointment.
“It’s excellent, marvellous. I’m very happy. I have alreadyspoken to some of the players and I received their unconditional support. They are winners, they have wonderful records with their clubs and maybe they can build a similar record with their country.
“I want the players to understand that I am one more in a group and that we can work together to defend Portugal with pride, honour, dignity and love. Nobody will change my way of working – I will do the job the same way I did with my clubs in Brazil, with the Kuwait national team and with the Brazil team.”
