Scolari resigns as Brazil manager

Wednesday, 16 July 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned as Brazil manager after the hosts suffered two of their worst defeats in World Cup history, the President of the Brazilian Football Confederation said on Monday.

Scolari’s men were favourites to win the tournament but were demolished 7-1 in the semi-finals by eventual champions Germany. To compound their misery, they lost the third-place playoff 3-0 against the Netherlands. CBF President Jose Maria Marin confirmed Scolari’s much-expected departure in a statement and thanked the experienced coach for helping “rescue the Brazil team’s self-esteem”. “Scolari and all his backroom staff deserve our respect and thanks,” Marin said in a short statement published on the CBF’s website. “They were responsible for returning to the Brazilian people a love for the national side, even if they did not achieve our highest aim.” Scolari, who led Brazil to the last of their record five World Cups in 2002, took over the post for a second time in November 2012 and lost just five of his 29 games in charge. He led Brazil to the Confederations Cup last year with a memorable 3-0 defeat of the world champions Spain in the final. He was hugely popular in Brazil for his gruff charm and also with the players, who looked up to him as a father figure. He had the support of the nation going into the World Cup and there was very little opposition to his squad selection, a rarity in Brazil, which is famously known as the “nation of 200 million coaches”.