Triumphant Scolari quits as coach of Brazil

Brazil's World Cup–winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has stepped down from his post.

Scolari, nicknamed Big Phil, only took charge of Brazil during the qualifying campaign for the World Cup, when at one stage the team had seemed unlikely to even get to Japan and South Korea, but now has opted not to extend his contract.

Once there, though, Brazil were transformed and won the competition by beating Germany 2–0 in the final in Yokohama.

"I'm not the national team coach anymore," Scolari told a press conference where it was expected he would announce he had agreed a new contract.

"I have spoken to Ricardo Teixeira (the Brazilian Football Confederation president) and explained to him that I have some difficulties. I need to be with my family, and I have other commitments."

Scolari's agreement ended after the World Cup, but the Brazilian Football Confederation offered him the chance to remain in charge for another four years.

"In the next 60, 90, 120 days, until the end of the year, I will stay with my family. After that, I will look to work in Europe, which is one of my professional targets," he said.

"If I go to a European team which is not a winning team, it will become one. And if it is already a winner, it will be even more of a winner," he added.

Scolari will coach the team one last time, in the friendly match against Paraguay, to be played on August 21 in celebration of their World Cup victory.