Scolari Withdraws Candidacy for England Soccer Coach

A Bloomberg story by James Cone at www.bloomberg.com

Luiz Felipe Scolari, who took Brazil to the soccer World Cup title four years ago, ruled himself out of the running for the post of England coach.

Luiz Felipe Scolari. Photograph: Domenico Stinellis/AP

Scolari made the announcement in his native Portuguese at a televised press conference in Germany today. The English Football Association, which has been interviewing candidates since announcing that Sven-Goran Eriksson would leave after the World Cup, said it would ``reflect on the announcement before making any further comment as we move forward with the process.''

Brian Barwick, chief executive of the F.A., was in Lisbon this week to hold talks with the 57-year-old Brazilian, whose contract with the Portugal squad expires after the June 9-July 9 showpiece. Scolari said the media frenzy surrounding the position contributed to his decision.

``Last night there were 20 reporters outside my house,'' Sky Sports reported him saying. ``If that is part of another culture, it is not part of my culture.''

Scolari has a history of run-ins with the media. As coach of Sao Paulo-based Palmeiras in 1998, he reacted to repeated questions on the banning of fans from training sessions by thumping a reporter for the Diario Popular newspaper.

``The press? The further away I am from them the better,'' Scolari said later. ``I've had a few clashes.''

Volatile Betting

Scolari's withdrawal may now favor Steve McClaren of Middlesbrough, who was originally the frontrunner to land the job. The final five candidates also included ex-Celtic coach Martin O'Neill, Bolton's Sam Allardyce and Charlton's Alan Curbishley.

McClaren, who also works part-time as an assistant to Eriksson, is the 4-7 favorite at Coral, one of several U.K. bookmakers to suspend betting yesterday. He led Middlesbrough to the UEFA Cup final yesterday after his team fought back from a three-goal deficit.

``This is the betting turn-up of the decade but completely in keeping with one of the most volatile betting events ever,'' Coral spokesman Simon Clare said in a statement. ``Punters who followed the Scolari gamble will be gutted as bookies have been saved a six-figure payout.''

Scolari is the joint 5-1 second favorite with Allardyce at Coral.

Nationality Question

Former players including Bryan Robson, together with the country's league managers' association, say the next coach should be an Englishman. McClaren, Allardyce and Curbishley are English, while O'Neill is from Northern Ireland. Team captain David Beckham has said nationality is irrelevant.

Known as ``Big Phil,'' Scolari has twice eliminated Eriksson's teams from major competition -- first when Brazil won their quarterfinal clash at the 2002 World Cup and then when Portugal eliminated England in the last eight of the 2004 European Championship.

Scolari wouldn't accept less than the 5 million pounds ($9 million) a year Eriksson is currently paid, the Sun and Daily Star newspapers reported. The F.A. offered 3 million pounds a year, the Guardian said.

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