Brazil wheel turns full circle for 'Big Phil'

The wheel turned full circle Thursday for Luiz Felipe Scolari as the man who led Brazil to World Cup glory a decade ago returned to take over the five-times world champions. Scolari, 64, left on a high after a Ronaldo-inspired victory over Germany in Tokyo in the 2002 showpiece which gave the Selecao their "Pentecampeao" or fifth world title. Since then, the auriverde have rarely looked as if a sixth success is in their immediate grasp. But with Brazil hosting their first World Cup since 1950 in 18 months time, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Thursday officially declared he is their choice to replace Mano Menezes, sacked without ceremony last week three months after failing to see off Mexico in the final of the Olympics. "Our sole commitment is to seek out and offer the best for our football and it is in this vein that we have chosen these two great champions, respected not just in our country but worldwide - Felipe Scolari and Carlos Alberto Parreira," CBF president Jose Maria Marin told a news conference. The appointment of "Felipao" has produced mixed emotions among fans and particularly former players - 1980s playmaker Zico in favour but 1970 winning skipper Carlos Alberto Torres indicating the veteran coach is past his sell-by date. Certainly Scolari has known more hotseat downs than ups in recent times. After Brazil, he did have six largely productive years with Portugal - leading them to the final of Euro 2004 on home soil only to be ambushed by Greece. That was a record stint for a man who is now taking on his 23rd touchline post in 20 years since he started out as a coach with state league side CSA in 1982. The club had in the 1970s had an illustrious chairman - former Brazilian president Fernando Collor de Mello. He later won a state title with Gremio before winning the Kuwait Emir Cup with Al Qadisiya and then taking the reins of the Kuwaiti national side. But, Portugal aside, his other posts have been on a rather itinerant basis, spending a few months here, a few months there - though it was the first Gulf War which ensured he left Kuwait. In June 2001, he was drafted to the Brazilian job with the team in apparent danger of missing out on the finals. Beforehand he had won the Copa do Brasil, the Mercosur Cup, and a first Copa Libertadores with Palmeiras - he left the same club last September as the club struggled on the way to eventual relegation. He had already in 1995 won the Copa Libertadores with Gremio, where he won a string of titles in three years - his longest club posting. Even so, in an eery pre-echo of what he will now doubtless experience, suffered media criticism of his pragmatic and hence 'un-Brazilian' playing style. That pragmatism even extended to his first stint with Brazil - but the off-stage moaning subsided when he delivered the World Cup. The moans returned big time at Stamford Bridge, where he took over following his Portugal stint only to fly through Roman Abramovich's revolving door after the club slipped outside the top three. For his next trick, Big Phil went to Uzbekistan's champions Bunyodkor, but again lasted only a matter of months after failing to steer them past the last 16 in the Asian Champions League even with his - ageing - 2002 Brazil star Rivaldo on board. A year-and-a-half with Palmeiras brought a Cup success but then poor league form meant another trip to the club class departure lounge. Now he returns, older, wiser perhaps than the man who five years ago punched Serbian international Ivica Dragutinovic during a World Cup qualifier. The man who amused reporters during his time with Portugal by answering to the name 'Gene' - he bears a more than passing resemblance to actor Gene Hackman - is now back on a mission for 2014 via next summer's Confederations Cup. Will it be love second time around with the Samba stars? He managed it at Gremio; not quite with Palmeiras. If he delivers a sixth World Cup with Brazil in 18 months, his reputation will soar once again.