THE Football Association are locked in negotiations with Luiz Felipe Scolari after offering the Brazilian the job of England head coach.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick and lawyer Simon Johnson flew to Lisbon on Wednesday after being given permission by the Portuguese FA to talk to Scolari, who will remain coach of Portugal until after the World Cup.
The FA first received permission to talk to Scolari in February when FA chairman Geoff Thompson contacted his counterpart at the Portuguese FA, Gilberto Madail.
No announcement is expected today but Scolari has emerged as Sven-Goran Erikssonés likely successor after the FAés five-man selection panel failed to settle on a British candidate.
Scolari undoubtedly has the best credentials, having won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and taken Portugal to the final of Euro 2004.
Infuriated
The news has infuriated the League Managersé Association, whose chairman Howard Wilkinson is the former FA technical director and who wanted an Englishman given the job.
Wilkinson, who has twice been Englandés caretaker manager, told Sky Sports News: éI think it would be a popular decision, but I donét think in the long term ités a good decision for whatés best for England and English football.
éI donét have any reservations about him as a manager, his track record with Brazil was good, but name me a manager of Brazil whose record hasnét been good in the last 50-odd years.
éHis record with Portugal particularly at the European Championships was good, but people who compete in European Championships on their home soil usually do well.
éEveryone speaks well of him. But I think in the long term it sends out the wrong message from the Football Association to English coaches and the ramifications will be seen in the years ahead.é
Who would you like as England boss? Have your say.
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Another foreign England manager being touted.
I have never rated Sven and his sidekick.
Scolari may be ok - but can he really be streets ahead of Allardyce and the other candidates...
Something amiss at FA headquarters.
I'm sorry, but the other options apart from Scolari were pretty unspectacular - 3 blokes who all manage fairly mediocre mid-table teams. If that is the best options we have for an English manager then I don't really blame the FA for going for Scolari. He's proven at the highest level.
The last thing we want is England playing like Bolton, Boro or Charlton!!!
My 2 favourites were Scolari and Hiddink, i would have preferred Hiddink as he has more experience of coaching european players and has done wonders with avergae teams, but hopefully Scolari can bring a dimension to Englands play that has been our downfall at the last 2 major competitions, KEEPING HOLD OF THE BALL!!!!
The fact that he has knocked you guys (England) from two major tournaments shows he knows your weakness; and i think he is the man to fix it.
Our country got a new coach from Serbia and we are too excited down here in Uganda.
His name is Sivic and am suspecting he may be related to Vidic (This will make me like him more).
What I have liked about him above anything else, is he has an ability to change things during a match. He did this to us in the Portugal match where we were coasting. Unlike Sven he has the ability to alter things on the spot. That is the thing we have been lacking for England. And he doesn't just use subs to swap players who are tired, he gets the subs to do a specific task and exploit weaknesses. The other good thing is he will be great fun with the media. His press conferences will be great theatre.
England should be managed by an englishman, sam should be given the job,but the F.A. will as usual ,do what THEY think is right, the english fans have no say at all. Farce.
We have had one joker, with Sven, at least he could speak the language. Now we are going for a coach who has no experience of Northern European football or players. Who pushed for this appointment, a certain Dein from Arsenal. Who said he has no clout at the F.A.
Totally agree with Dwaine and Rob. I to would have prefered Hiddink. What other options are there really?
Major footballing nations say from the top 50 in FIFA rankings should not be allowed to appoint foreign Managers. If we don't have decent managers then its just tough!just like it would be if we didn't have decent players. The world cup is all about Country V Country, Personally i'm positive big Sam could do just as good (or maybe bad) job as Sven for half the price!
It's quite obvious that i should be the next England Manager.
I can speak the language, know loads about world football and i have won the treble 3 times on Chapionship Manager.
I have far more qualifications than Allardyce anyway!
YES PLEASE.HE IS THE MAN .
I am sick to the back teeth of hearing England fans moaning about the possibilty of having a foreign manager instead of an English one. For heaven's sake, can we win something of merit first, and then whinge? This typifies the mentality in this country, always willing to accept 2nd best. We're absolutely rubbish at every other sport.
As long as there are 11 English players on the pitch who are fighting for the cause (they're ultimately the ones that have to put the ball in the net, funnily enough). I really hope this Scolari deal comes off because at least he's a proven winner at the highest level in football and it's about time we won something.
Having read in depth reports on Scolari,I am convinced we have the second best option for England Manager....my personal choice would have been Gus Hiddink.
Having looked at formations used by Scolari for Brazil and Portugal,a little tinkering with England may produce a formation consisting of a back four with 2 men in front of defence (Beckham and Carrick) followed by a line of three (Lampard,Rooney and Gerrard) with Owen at the front........what an exciting prospect
I am surprised the stats people have not come up with a Managers league table. Based on the individuals success eg points could be awarded for their success at International level,European level and domestic level.Deductions of points for excessive transfer fees paid of over ??10 million a season and points deducted for players sold at a loss.By appointing a foreign Manager the FA are admitting that their own coaching system is a sham.Thousand of would be hopefuls pay huge fees each year to the FA to embark on a coaching career,this gravy train should now cease!