Luiz Felipe Scolari – also known as Felipão (Big Phil) – is an iconic football manager who led the Brazilian national team to World Cup victory in 2002. His other achievements include leading Portugal to the UEFA Euro 2004 final and a victory with Brazil at the 2013 Confederations Cup. In recent years the legendary coach has travelled to China claiming both the 2015 AFC Champions League and 2015 Chinese Super League as manager of Guangzhou Evergrande.
Born in Passo Fundo, Brazil, Scolari began his football journey as a professional player, following in his father’s footsteps. An uncompromising defender, his playing career encompassed spells with Juventude, Caxias and CSA. Often chosen as captain for the teams he played for, he won the 1981 Campeonato Alagoano with CSA and was later appointed manager of the club when he retired as a player. After spells with Brasil de Pelotas, Juventude , Pelotas and Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab, Scolari moved to Grêmio and guided the team to the Gaúcho state championship in 1987. His first taste as a manager of a country came in 1989 when he took charge of Kuwait, helping the side win the 10th Gulf Cup.
In June 2001 Scolari was given one of the top jobs in football, managing his native Brazil, who were in jeopardy of not qualifying for the World Cup the following year. Brazil enjoyed a remarkable turnaround under Scolari’s guidance, qualifying and then going on to win their fifth FIFA World Cup title. Spells at Chelsea, Portugal, Palmeiras and a return to Brazil followed for the great manager, as well as a stint in China with Guangzhou Evergrande. Now in his 70s, he returned to Grêmio for the fourth time in 2021 and helped the team move out of the last place in Brasileiro Série A.
