The appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari - or Big Phil - as Chelsea's new manager might just provide Sir Alex Ferguson with his last great feud before settling down with the pipe and slippers.
Brazil's World Cup winning coach in 2002 comes armed with all the ingredients to make him a classic opponent both on and off the pitch.
He may yet arrive at Stamford Bridge with another addition to his CV, if he guides Portugal to success in the European Championships.
Either way, his credentials as a coach of the highest quality are without question.
But perhaps the most intriguing thing about the 59-year-old is Scolari the man, rather than the coach.
For those who miss the controversy courted by Jose Mourinho, he comes with plenty of that.
Displeasure
Just last year he was fined for lashing out Serbia player Ivica Dragutinovic during a European Championship qualifier.
Somewhat more blatant than hiding in a laundry basket or dog smuggling - just a couple of pastimes attributed to his predecessor, and are said to have met with the displeasure of Roman Abramovich.
In short, Scolari doesn't suffer fools and meets confrontation in only one way - head on.
So a war of words with Ferguson may be the very least we can expect. The two already have some scores to settle.
Just last season Ferguson was infuriated by Scolari who had gone against his word by playing Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani for longer than he'd promised during an international friendly.
Ferguson claimed international bosses were threatening his side's chances in the Premier League and Europe by over-using his players in pointless friendlies. Scolari was named personally, while both Ronaldo and Nani went on to pull out of the next Portugal squad due to injury.
On that occasion Scolari chose not to react.
But he will have angered Ferguson further with his comments in the build up to the European Championships when offering Ronaldo advice about his future.
With Real Madrid continuing to court the 23-year-old, Scolari said:
"I have told him that in football you cannot live on memories.
"You have to take the opportunities when they come along because they will not come again in your lifetime."
Response
Short of packing Ronaldo's bags and driving him to the airport, Scolari could hardly have been more insistent in his belief that the winger should end his five-year stay at United.
It would be interesting to see his response should a manager advise a Frank Lampard or Michael Essien to follow Jose Mourinho to Inter Milan.
Scolari, though, has followed his own advice and found the lure of Chelsea in 2008 eminently more appealing than that of England two years ago.
One look at the media intrusion and pressure associated with the national job was enough to convince him to reject the chance to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.
But he will hardly be given an easier ride at Stamford Bridge.
Just ask Avram Grant, who went within the width of a post of becoming Chelsea's first Champions League-winning manager.
As the latest captain to steer Abramovich's ambition, Scolari will find the Russian oligarch short on patience.
With a track record like his though, such issues are unlikely to be of concern.
Will Scolari get the better of Fergie? Have your say.
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I dont think Fergie & Scloari will get fight like street dog.
SAF is too gentle to get involve in the such stupid thing that would destroy his reputation as a "SIR" in England. He won't do street dog fighting like that with Scolari.
When 'Big-mouth-Phil' was announced as Chelski manager I said, "Another reason to dislike em!"
It's started already - Fergie v Wenger, Fergie v Benitez, Fergie v 'Moanrhinio' and now Fergie v Scolari.... Fantastic!
As Tiswas used to say, "This is what they want!"
Mickeylove -
bearingagrudge.com
Within club level in Europe, no one comes close to Fergie. Yes, not even Big Phil. Hwer, success in S.American leagues & on National level, Big Phil stands tall. So, the pt is can he translates his success in S.America to Europe, in particular to the EPL under Chelski's band of divest nationalities???. My answer is NO!. Consider these :-
1. African brute
2. German stubborness
3. French arrogance
4. English tenacity
5. Russian impatience
Give a Brazilian the abv & I believe Chelski wl freefall big time!. Hwer, knowin' Big Phil, he'd want to get his own set of players. So, we'll get to see more money spent on new signings - former players under Big Phil. This is THE league!. This is EPL!. I believe it'll take him a couple of years(3-5 yrs) to seriously challenge Man Utd and/or Arsenal. The question is can the Russian wait tt long???. I don't think so.
I think Fergie will be relishing a new challenge, just as he did when Jose came on the scene.
Interesting appointment Scolari - will somebody with an ego his size be happy with Roman butting his nose in all the time? Could be fun!
Virgopq, singapore
Careful with your racist and xenophobic comments. African Brute? You think us African's are just brutal and have no finese or brains? Is there an African player at Chelsea (Kalou, Essien, Drogba, Mikel) as brutal as John Terry for example?
Thanks Editor for allowing this post so I can exercise my freedom of speech and ensure people are more sensitive when posting their comments.
Chelski lost the CL on penalties and the league narrowly on points.Scolari already has a strong side at Chelski.If he's a better coach than Avram then Chelski should win everything in sight.We'll see.
I still think Scolari looks like he should be selling ice creams on Brighton pier.
CV credentials help but LFS still has to prove he can deliver. Let's see how well Chelsea starts the season. If Chelsea stumbles out of the gate with his new boys and new system, LFS will lash out at others to save his own skin. Seen him do that time and again. To him it's always somebody else's fault. My money is on us making it 3 in a row anytime. Go MU!
This man would have known he was on his way to Chelski when he was advising Ronaldo to leave Old Trafford, obviously this shows that he scared of the threat that United pose to his team. Can not wait for the season to start, Sir Alex will have his revenge.
SAF will not forgive him for advising Ronaldo to leave United, and he has known since mid-May that he will take on the Chelsea job. At the same time he is saying that Chelsea should offer Lampard what he wants to ensure he stays where he is... such behaviour was called being two-faced when I was a kid.
I hope Ronaldo wakes up and sees that the advice from Biggus Fillus for Ronny to join Real Madrid was only given to weaken United, so that Chelsea have more chance of success next season. Hope he patches it up with Fergie so we can stuff Big Phil and his mercenaries big time.
Without Ronny it will be harder...
WAKEY WAKEY CR7!!! The people surraounding you are NOT on your side!!
Fergie lots of silverware in a 20+ role at old trafford,aberdeen he got silverware too.
Luiz scolari world cup winner with a national team ,never managed a top flight 38+game club especiall in the epl(welcome to chavski's hot seat,they dont last long,you have nothing on fergie.
Mourino was good and ill be first to admit it and he got on with fergie,grant did well and they sacked him,whats your fate???? time will tell.
There will be a clash of personalities between Scolari,and Abramovich believe me.Scolari who will be nobodys fool ,despite the owners wealth,will not stand interference ,and I will give him a season before he walks .A similar situation could occur at Wastelands where Sparky is an equally strong character ,and If Shinguard interferes too much, then will Mark Hughes tolerate it? .He is already under pressure to finish higher than 9th,and what a way to start a job.As for Big Phil Scolari he will have unlimited funds it seems ,but will he be allowed to spend it on the players he wants ,and not the Russki?
I am a little disturbed with Big Phil’s antics, normally when coaches or mentors give advice to their protégé; they do it genuinely with no hidden agenda or expected benefits. However, it seem to me that his persistent advice to Ronaldo, has been solely based on the fact that he will be competing in the EPL against Manchester United next year and probably in the years to come. That is completely wrong and I do not think it is a good way to start a career in England.
I really hope Big Phil falls flat on his face, but that would be an extremely difficult job considering the quality of players and the squad he has not to mention the unlimited amount of cash,still i really hope it happens.
Scholari is just another threat to United and YES someone else to HATE like Mourinho,Wenger,Benitez or whoever can put SAF in his place......and more importantly putop to Uniteds OBSCENE monopoly won by greed and spending power and to think they had the audacity to criticise Chelsea for buying success two seasons ago......... MUFC were the founder members of the same thing themselves ---- FACT.......
Dear Ted (Knott of Droolsville), weren`t any caravans free at Butlins for you and your dearest?
Go and get yourself a nice tan, learn to play snooker and have a go at Bingo in the evening. Dance lessons and table tennis thrown in for free, you can even play on the slot machines if you`ve got a few coins...
That would really be a bag of fun for you, believe me, a load better than trying to wind up United supporters... go and annoy your new neighbours at Butlins!
Ta taa Teddy!
LMAO - poor Ted
To the Droylsden Drone ,Bertie Knott, it appears hating United keeps you going .Bet you hate FC United too! Bet you were in tears when VDS saved Anelkas penalty! Bet you gnashed your teeth when Giggsy scored the second at Wigan! What a sad individual you are!
Oh so Dr.Shinpad isnt try to buy success bitter Ted?What tunnel vision you have .If Sparky doesnt better Svens (in whom city fans trusted)league position will he be shown the door that so ,so many city Managers have gone through? Obscene should be the word used to describe Svens ignominious demise,and dont tell me it was done in the correct manner,or what was the fans protest all about?
perhaps tedknott might care to remember where uniteds money came from. through the turnstiles initially and then as they say'success breeds success'chelski had nothing till the dodgy russian turned up. united do spend big money on players but they buy 2 or 3 top players most seasons and this only adds up to the same amount that the dippers spend on their usual 10 new players.united were always bigger than the bitters even in your 'great years' of the late 60's early 70s. 4 or 5 trophies wasnt it? then back to mediocrity. Hughes cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear. he may beat united in one of the games next season, so what, he knows that's all you bitters want (sad little people) but you will always be a second tier club.How is the council ground looking these days. good luck with your usual back door trip into Europe.