Scolari resigns as Brazil boss
- adamhigginsuk
- Jul 14, 2014
- 2 min read
Scapegoat: The blame and responsibility rested upon Scolari after Brazil's disappointing home World Cup campaign (Picture from Fifa.com)
BRAZIL head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned from his post, their national football federation have confirmed.
The 65-year-old, who guided La Selecao to World Cup glory in 2002, presided over a dismal end to the 2014 tournament they hosted as they finished in fourth place.
Brazil were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals before losing 3-0 to Holland in the third place play-off as they suffered their first competitive losses on home soil since 1975.
Brazil's leading broadcaster Globo TV first broke the news about Scolari, who was roundly jeered when he appeared on the big screen in the defeat by the Dutch and said afterwards he would leave the decision about his future to the federation itself.
The decision was announced on the Brazilian Football Confederation website following a meeting between Scolari and president Jose Maria Marin, who is scheduled to step down next year in favour of Marco Polo Del Nero.
Del Nero had given Scolari his full backing only last week after the humiliating defeat in Belo Horizonte, which the one-time Chelsea boss described as the "worst day" of his life.
However, it now appears all parties have agreed a fresh approach is needed to rebuild Brazilian football, with Scolari's current contract, which expired at the end of the World Cup, not to be renewed.
"Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and his fellow coaching staff surrendered their positions to the board of the Brazilian Football Confederation," a statement from the CBF read.
"The resignation was accepted by president Marin, who was keen to thank all the coaches and players and, by extension, the Brazilian fans for their support throughout the World Cup campaign.
"Scolari and his entire coaching staff deserve our respect and gratitude. They were responsible for returning to the Brazilian people your love for the team, despite not having achieved our greatest goal."
Scolari first took over the Brazil side in 2001 and guided them to World Cup success a year later, beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final in Yokohama, Japan.
But after spells in charge of Portugal, Premier League side Chelsea, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and Brazilian club Palmeiras, he resumed control of the national team in December 2012.
Brazil hosted and won the Confederations Cup in 2013, beating Spain 3-0 in the final, and were favourites to win a sixth World Cup.
They finished top of their group after two wins and a draw from their three matches, before edging past Chile on penalties in the last 16.
They beat Colombia 2-1 in the quarter-finals, but lost top goalscorer Neymar to a spine injury and captain Thiago Silva to suspension.
In the semi-final, Brazil were 5-0 down to Joachim Low's Germany after only 29 minutes, before losing 7-1.
Scolari described the defeat as "the worst day of his life" and asked for forgiveness from the Brazilian people.
Last updated: 14 July 2014 10:23am
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