Scolari comes out of retirement

In a colourful career spanning more than 40 years, Scolari has enjoyed success at both club and international level.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has agreed to another stint in the dugout, coming out of retirement on Friday to take over at Brazilian Serie A club Atletico Mineiro until December 2024.

The 74-year-old left his job as technical director at Athletico Paranaense to sign on at the Belo Horizonte-based club, where he succeeds Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet.

Scolari took Athletico to the Copa Libertadores final last year during a six-month spell in charge and announced his retirement in November, continuing at the club as a technical director.

In a colourful career spanning more than 40 years, Scolari has enjoyed success at both club and international level but will be most remembered for his highs and lows with his native Brazil.

A fan in disbelief during Brazil’s 7-1 drubbing by Germany at home in the 2014 World Cup semi-final.
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Scolari famously led Brazil to their 2002 World Cup triumph in Japan but was also the man in charge when they suffered their most embarrassing defeat, a 7-1 drubbing by Germany at home in the 2014 World Cup semi-final.

He took Portugal to the final of the 2004 European Champion and semi-finals of the World Cup in 2006 before taking charge at Chelsea, where he endured a turbulent seven-month spell before being sacked.

At club level, Scolari has enjoyed success in Brazil and China.

He won the Brazilian Serie A and Copa Libertadores with both Germio and Palmeiras, and the Chinese Super League and Asian Champions League at Guangzhou Evergrande.

Scolari’s first game in charge of Atletico will be away to Fluminense on June 21.

-REUTERS