FA offers England job to Scolari

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FA offers England job to Scolari

Scolari move provokes mixed views

Luiz Felipe Scolari has been offered the job of England manager and is discussing terms with the Football Association, the BBC has learned.
 
FA chief executive Brian Barwick was in Lisbon on Wednesday to thrash out a deal with Portugal's Brazilian coach.

"We were speaking to Felipe as part of the process of recruiting the next coach and that process continues," said Barwick after flying back to London.

Scolari, 57, refused to comment: "I have nothing to say. Go away," he said.

The Brazilian's Portugal contract runs out after the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

If he accepted the post Scolari, who led Brazil to victory at the 2002 World Cup, would replace Sven-Goran Eriksson after this summer's tournament.

Scolari is thought to have a gentleman's agreement with the Portuguese FA not to commit himself to another job until his current deal runs out in July. 

But it is understood part of the FA's talks in Lisbon were about waiving this arrangement.

Barwick flew back in to London's Heathrow on Thursday but made no comment on when the FA would make an announcement on the situation.

An FA spokesman told BBC Sport that talks with the Portuguese FA started in February this year.

The spokesman said: "I can confirm that the FA formally approached the Portuguese Football Federation back in February. 

"The FA chairman Geoff Thompson spoke to the PFF president Gilberto Madail for permission to speak to Mr Scolari and that permission was granted."

The FA board is due to meet again on Thursday 4 May and had hoped to be in a position to finalise its selection by then.

Scolari's case is believed to have been championed at the highest level within the FA by Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein.

News that he has been offered the England job will come as a blow to those fans who favour a British appointment.

The FA has also held talks with Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, Bolton's Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley of Charlton and former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill.

Last week, the FA claimed it had completed its interview process, and McClaren - part of Eriksson's current England coaching team - was seen as the favourite.

But Barwick's trip to Portugal seems to support claims that the FA board was unable to reach a firm decision.

Agreeing personal terms with Scolari should not be an issue as the estimated £3m annual salary on offer would represent a big pay rise for him.

But the FA's approach raises the prospect of Scolari facing England in Germany this summer as manager-elect, possibly in the quarter-finals.

He has helped to knock England out of their past two major tournaments - with Brazil in the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, and with Portugal at the same stage in Euro 2004.

Scolari is a double winner of the Libertadores - the South American championship - and took hosts Portugal to the final of Euro 2004, where they lost to Greece.