Scolari named as Chelsea manager
Scolari named as Chelsea manager
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Scolari's teams are known for playing entertaining football
Chelsea have named Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new manager in succession to Avram Grant.
Scolari, who is currently in charge of the Portuguese side at Euro 2008, will take over at Stamford Bridge on 1 July.
"Felipe has great qualities. He is one of the world's top coaches with a record of success at country and club level," Chelsea said in a statement.
Carlo Ancelotti, Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini had also been linked with the job.
Chelsea added: "He gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours. He was the outstanding choice.
"Out of respect for his current role and to ensure minimum disruption to this work there will be no further comment from Chelsea nor from Felipe about his new role until his employment with us commences."
Scolari, won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 before leading Portugal to the final of Euro 2004, was believed to be in the running to become England manager in 2006 but was reportedly put off the job because of fears of media intrusion.
But former Chelsea player Gavin Peacock told BBC Sport he would fit into Chelsea's desire to play more attractive football. "You can't argue with his record," he said. "If you're looking for someone with charisma and presence in the dressing room, then he is your man.
"His teams play with flair so it fits in with what Chelsea say they have been looking for, but the everyday involvement, getting into the players minds is going to take time. "I suspected that Scorlari might be lined up when Chelsea signed Jose Boswinga at the start of the summer and there was talk of Deco coming to the club.
But he said Scolari's lack of English could prevent him from forming a bond with the players.
"My only question mark would be about his level of English. Does he speak it? Someone like the England manager Fabio Capello didn't speak it but he had time to learn and he has time between each England gathering, but Scolari will need to get his ideas across every day. It will be a challenge. "As another example, (former Chelsea boss) Jose Mourinho on his first trip away with the team for a pre-season friendly in the United States, sat on the plane with Joe Cole for two hours getting to know him, not just talking about football but everything, to try and understand his players.
"Scolari will not be able to do that."
Scolari named as Chelsea manager
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Scolari's teams are known for playing entertaining football
Chelsea have named Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new manager in succession to Avram Grant.
Scolari, who is currently in charge of the Portuguese side at Euro 2008, will take over at Stamford Bridge on 1 July.
"Felipe has great qualities. He is one of the world's top coaches with a record of success at country and club level," Chelsea said in a statement.
Carlo Ancelotti, Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini had also been linked with the job.
Chelsea added: "He gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours. He was the outstanding choice.
"Out of respect for his current role and to ensure minimum disruption to this work there will be no further comment from Chelsea nor from Felipe about his new role until his employment with us commences."
Scolari, won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 before leading Portugal to the final of Euro 2004, was believed to be in the running to become England manager in 2006 but was reportedly put off the job because of fears of media intrusion.
But former Chelsea player Gavin Peacock told BBC Sport he would fit into Chelsea's desire to play more attractive football. "You can't argue with his record," he said. "If you're looking for someone with charisma and presence in the dressing room, then he is your man.
"His teams play with flair so it fits in with what Chelsea say they have been looking for, but the everyday involvement, getting into the players minds is going to take time. "I suspected that Scorlari might be lined up when Chelsea signed Jose Boswinga at the start of the summer and there was talk of Deco coming to the club.
But he said Scolari's lack of English could prevent him from forming a bond with the players.
"My only question mark would be about his level of English. Does he speak it? Someone like the England manager Fabio Capello didn't speak it but he had time to learn and he has time between each England gathering, but Scolari will need to get his ideas across every day. It will be a challenge. "As another example, (former Chelsea boss) Jose Mourinho on his first trip away with the team for a pre-season friendly in the United States, sat on the plane with Joe Cole for two hours getting to know him, not just talking about football but everything, to try and understand his players.
"Scolari will not be able to do that."
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