Big Phil back at the helm in Brazil
Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 2:13 AM | by Peter Stickney 
Luiz Felipe "Big Phil" Scolari has been named as the manager of Brazil's national team for the second time, according to the Daily Mail. After saying earlier today that he wasn't going to be the manager he has been appointed this evening.
After leading Brazil to success in the World Cup in 2002 he stepped down and has undertaken various managerial posts since then. In Euro 2004, where they were a host nation, he took Portugal to the final where they were unexpectedly beaten by Greece 1-0. He also took Portugal to the World Cup semi-finals in 2006 and the Euro 2008 quarter-finals.
After stepping down as the Portuguese national coach he went back into club management at the hottest of hot seats at Roman Abramovich's Chelsea. He won twenty of his thirty six games in charge at Stamford Bridge but Abramovich, who was picking his ear with the bones of an octagenarian Russian miner at the time, was bored with him and gave him the heave-ho. He then took a slightly bizarre turn and ended up managing Bunyodkor the then Uzbekistani champions; leaving after less than a year in charge after a series of poor results. I'm not sure what took him to Uzbekistan. The beautiful scenery, the chance to expand football in the nation or the €13 million a year that made him the highest earning manager in football. Who knows?
He then returned to club management in Brazil until getting fired from Palmeiras this September. He now faces a massive challenge as the manager of the host nation who will be expected, if not to definitely win, then certainly to mount a serious challenge for the World Cup in 2014. No pressure Phil.
Peter Stickney
