By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Luiz Felipe Scolari, affectionately known as “Felipão”, is set to be unveiled for a second spell as coach of the Seleção (Brazilian national team). Scolari, who was head coach when Brazil lifted their last World Cup in 2002, will be formally introduced to the media this morning at 10:30 AM at the Windsor Hotel, Barra da Tijuca.
The CBF, Brazil’s football federation, has acted swiftly following the dismissal of Mano Menezes last Friday. Having originally claimed a decision would only be made in January, president José Marin identified and succeeded in luring his number one target.
Scolari will be a popular choice with fans after several pools run on Brazilian sports television programs and websites showed Felipão as the people’s choice. His last club job however, did not end so well at Paulista club Palmeiras.
Despite winning the Copa do Brasil, the club have been relegated to the second division, with Scolari receiving his marching orders two months ago. The former Portugal and Chelsea manager now has five games to mold his team prior to the 2013 Confederations Cup in June.
In an interview with Portal da Copa last week, before being announced as the new coach, Scolari said: “I believe in the squad, as a whole.”
“A large team consists of a group. A [single] player will not make a difference. Pele had other players behind him that supported him. The group will make the Seleção gets there,” the coach explained.
Read more (in Portuguese).
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