Scolari to leave Portugal with Madail

[Lemmy]

An impending change in the leadership of the Portuguese Football Federation will ensure the exit of Luiz Felipe Scolari as its coach. Gilberto Madail intends to resign his long and successful presidency of the FPF after Euro 2008, exchanging it for a position with Uefa or Fifa. Scolari, a leading candidate to become Chelsea manager, is clear that he will not consider continuing with the Portuguese once Madail leaves.

Madail, 63, has begun preparing the ground for his departure at the end of a tournament Portugal are one of the favourites to win. According to sources close to the Portuguese federation, the long-serving president has tired of the politics of his nation's domestic game. He recently endured judicial and sporting investigations into attempts by FC Porto to influence referees that resulted in his country's premier club being banned from next season's Champions League.

Last October, Madail had to battle his own federation to retain Scolari when the coach suffered a four-match touchline ban for reacting to Serbia international Ivica Dragutinovic during a Euro qualifier. Though his ban was reduced on appeal, Scolari was fined €35,000 by the FPF - while a faction within the federation sought the Brazilian's dismissal.

In an interview with Portuguese daily Publico last week, Madail admitted the FPF had considered sacking Scolari over the affair, before discussing his own exit. "One day I will wake up and ask: 'What am I doing here?'" Madail said. "It is not my desire [to stand for re-election], and if God allows, I will not run. At this moment, nothing is going to move me from my plan." The timing and content of the interview is understood to have been ill received within the Portuguese camp.

Out of contract at the end of Euro 2008, Scolari will feel no obligation to remain with Portugal once the man who brought him to Lisbon in 2003 departs. With Madail tied up in the presidential succession, there have been no negotiations over extending his deal for the 2010 World Cup and none are scheduled to take place.

Scolari to quit Portugal with Madail | Football | guardian.co.uk

[Frank Cunha]

we still going to cry for Scolari

let keep the old fart

[SOMOSBENFICA]

It's official Scolari will be taking over Chelsea...

[quinas1139]

Your a class act Scolari. First it was said that you were not going to mention Chelsea until after the tournament but I guess that was a lie. So your leaving just for the money??? Thats great! Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out!!!

Scolari: «A FPF não conseguiu igualar a oferta do Chelsea»

[ 2008/06/14 | 20:32 ] Nuno Madureira enviado-especial à SuíçaScolari comunica aos jogadores que assinou pelo Chelsea [Foto: Francisco Paraíso/FPF]Luiz Felipe Scolari acabou de falar em conferência de imprensa sobre o anúncio da sua saída para o Chelsea. Scolari explicou que Madail tentou durante 15 dias arranjar patrocínios de forma a que a FPF igualasse a proposta milionária do Chelsea. Sem sucesso, pelos vistos.

«Tudo o que foi feito aconteceu com a consciência de que as pessoas interessadas sabiam de tudo. O presidente da FPF tentou nas últimas duas semanas arranjar uma ajuda financeira através de patrocínios, de forma a que a federação tivesse a possibilidade de me oferecer o mesmo do Chelsea. Mas isso não foi possível», explicou o técnico brasileiro.

«Até ao final do Euro, o ambiente vai ser exactamente o mesmo que seria se não houvesse esta novidade. Decidimos que esta seria a melhor altura para anunciar a minha ligação ao Chelsea. Fico até ao final da prova de uma forma normal, num ambiente maravilhoso e a gostar cada vez mais dos meus atletas.»

Após esta declaração, os jornalistas tentaram obter mais algumas informações mas Scolari insistiu em responder através de monossílabos. «Não» e «sim» foram as únicas palavras que saíram da boca de um Scolari visivelmente contrariado ao longo de vários minutos.

Mais à frente na conferência, um jornalista perguntou ao técnico se o principal motivo para a sua saída havia sido a questão financeira. Scolari limitou-se a responder «também».