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Scolari leaves Brazil job

July 15, 2014

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned as head coach of the national side. No replacement has been announced for Scolari, who was in charge for Brazil's 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany.

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Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari prior the FIFA World Cup 2014 quarter final match between Brazil and Colombia at the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil, 04 July 2014. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

The Brazilian football confederation (CFB) said on Wednesday that Scolari would not return as trainer after the host side's disastrous finish at the 2014 World Cup.

CFB president Jose Maria Marin confirmed the departure, which followed growing speculation that Scolari would not continue in the role. His backroom staff will also leave.

In a statement Marin thanked the coach, who presided over Brazil's bruising 7-1 semifinal drubbing by eventual tournament winners Germany, for helping "rescue the Brazil team's self-esteem."

To compound Brazil's semifinal misery, they were also largely overshadowed by the Netherlands, losing 3-0 in the tournament's third-place playoff on Saturday.

"Scolari and all his backroom staff deserve our respect and thanks," Marin said in a short statement published on the confederation'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."

Past World Cup winner

Scolari, who took over in December 2012 from sacked team boss Mano Menezes, had said he would win the World Cup for Brazil for a sixth time. He was in charge when the country won its fifth World Cup at the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea.

Scolari, sometimes nicknamed "Felipao" and "Big Phil," also guided Brazil to victory in the 2013 Confederations Cup, seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

The 65-year-old's contract ended after the 2014 World Cup, but he had said he would wait to decide if football bosses wanted him to remain in charge of the national side, known to Brazilians as the "Selecao."

Scolari has managed other international sides including Portugal, and numerous club sides as far afield as England - where he briefly managed Chelsea - Japan, Kuwait and Uzbekistan.

rc/crh (AP, AFP, Reuters)