Portugal appoint Scolari

Brazil's FIFA World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been confirmed as the new coach of UEFA EURO 2004™ hosts Portugal.

Official announcement
After a day of speculation linking Scolari with the post, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced his appointment on its website on Thursday afternoon. The 54-year-old former Grêmio PA and SE Palmeiras coach is expected to sign a contract covering the period between January 2003 and July 2004.

World champion
The terms of the deal, which FPF president Gilberto Madaíl says have been grossly exaggerated by the press, reportedly include the option of an extension beyond the 2004 finals. Madaíl told the Portuguese football daily A Bola: "I knew that I had to get the best for the Portuguese team and I really don't think I could have got any better than the world champion himself."

'Unconditional support'
Scolari, who resigned five weeks after the World Cup saying he wanted more time with his family with a view to coaching a team in Europe, said: "It's excellent, marvellous. I'm very happy. I have already spoken to some of the players and I received their unconditional support. They are winners, they have wonderful records with their clubs and maybe they can build a similar record with their country."

Working together
Scolari added: "I want the players to understand that I am one more in a group and that we can work together to defend Portugal with pride, honour, dignity and love. Nobody will change my way of working - I will do the job the same way I did with my clubs in Brazil, with the Kuwait national team and with the Brazil team."