FA offers England job to Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari has been offered the job of England manager and is discussing terms with the Football Assocation, Sir Stanley has learned.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick is in Lisbon to thrash out a deal with Portugal's Brazilian coach.
Scolari, 57, who guided Brazil to victory in the 2002 World Cup, is out of contract after the 2006 finals.
If he accepts the post, he will take over from Sven-Goran Eriksson following this summer's tournament in Germany.
Scolari is thought to have a gentleman's agreement with the Portuguese FA not to commit himself to another job until his current deal runs out in July.
But it is understood part of the FA's talks in Lisbon are about waiving this arrangement.
The FA board is due to meet again next Thursday and had hoped to be in a position to finalise its selection by then.
Scolari's case has been championed at the highest level within the FA by Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein.
News that he has been offered the England job will come as a blow to those fans who favour a British appointment.
The FA has also held talks with Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, Bolton's Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley of Charlton and former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill.
Last week, the FA claimed it had completed its interview process, and McClaren - part of Eriksson's current England coaching team - was seen as the favourite.
But Barwick's trip to Portugal seems to support claims that the FA board was unable to reach a firm decision.
Agreeing personal terms with Scolari should not be an issue as the estimated £3m annual salary on offer would represent a big pay rise for him.
But the FA's approach raises the prospect of Scolari facing England in Germany this summer as manager-elect, possibly in the quarter-finals.
He has helped to knock England out of their past two major tournaments - with Brazil in the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, and with Portugal at the same stage in Euro 2004.
Scolari is a double winner of the Libertadores - the South American championship - and took hosts Portugal to the final of Euro 2004, where they lost to Greece.
Move for Scolari divides opinion
There has been a mixed reaction to the news that Luiz Felipe Scolari has been offered the England manager's job.
Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick is in Portugal discussing terms with the 57-year-old Brazilian.
Former FA director of football Howard Wilkinson said: "I don't think it's the right decision for English football."
But former England assistant coach Don Howe said: "He was impressive with Brazil in the last World Cup, handled them well and was tactically clever."
Scolari is currently coach of Portugal's national team and will remain in charge of the Euro 2004 finalists for the World Cup finals in Germany this summer.
He was a World Cup winner in Korea and Japan in 2002 when he coached the Brazil team to victory.
Don Howe added: "I thought we would be getting a British or Irish England coach - Martin O'Neill, Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley, Steve McClaren, I think all of those could have done the job.
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"I don't know if Scolari is better but all you can do is go on reputation.
"He won the World Cup with Brazil and if he is good at handling experienced international players, with the big names they have got in Brazil, then so be it.
"At the last World Cup he was very good at seeing things going on out there on the pitch.
"He would be on his feet and he would pull and push these great players around. So that was very impressive."
Andre Kfouri, a reporter with the ESPN Brazil sports network, believes that appointing Scolari would ensure England had a proven coach of great ability.
"He is a motivator," Kfouri said.
"He knows everything about the game. He knows how to deal with different players and the main factor is his teams love him. His players do whatever it takes to win when they are playing for him."
And Kfouri confirmed that Scolari is learning English, adding: "He's studying right now, I can inform you."
Zico, a fellow Brazilian and manager of the Japan national team, believes that the language barrier could be a significant issue.
"The main difficulty might be the language," said Zico. "So you need somebody to help you with that, somebody who knows your philosophy and knows what you're thinking.
"But the most important thing is to have deep knowledge about soccer in the country."
But Howard Wilkinson, currently chairman of the League Managers' Association, believes that the appointment would be bad news for the development of home-grown coaches.
"I don't think it's in the best interests of English coaches and that is what the FA is primarily there to do - to foster the best interests of English players and English coaches," said Wilkinson.
"English coaches have followed the FA line, they have worked hard to get themselves qualified but now, if this appointment is made, what the FA is saying is 'We say one thing but we do another'."
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce said he could understand people's frustration that the FA has decided to try to appoint another foreign manager.
"I do recognise that there are Englishmen who feel they are experienced enough to do the job and I can understand they are frustrated if they haven't got it," said Pearce.
"I am surprised it's not an Englishman because the groundswell of public opinion seemed to be pushing towards someone of that nature.
"Whoever gets it will have my full support."
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes said: "For my money it's another blow to British coaching.
But he admitted that Scolari's record at international level is "outstanding".
Former England midfielder Peter Reid was disappointed that an English coach had been overlooked.
"I have done my pro license like Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley and Steve McClaren," said Reid.
"We paid £7,000 to do them and then when it comes to the top job none of the English lads get it, which I find really disappointing."
Portmouth manager Harry Redknapp said: "I would like to have seen one of the England lads get it.
"There are some great young managers in this country who could do the job no problem."
Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson said: "If they appoint a young English manager people would say 'this is great'.
"But it's all about results and I think it should be the best man for the job. Scolari brings massive experience and he doesn't take any prisoners."
Leonardo tips Scolari to succeed
Brazil legend Leonardo believes Luiz Felipe Scolari will do well as England boss if the current Portuguese coach does succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Leonardo, who was a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994, also played under Scolari in the twilight of his career.
"I think he would be a good coach," Leonardo told Sir Stanley. "He's a nice guy and very good in relationships.
"He constructs a very positive atmosphere within the camp and he knows how to motivate players."
Scolari helped to knock England out of their past two major tournaments - with Brazil in the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, and with Portugal at the same stage in Euro 2004.
The 57-year-old Scolari also took hosts Portugal to the final of Euro 2004, where they lost to Greece.
Leonardo said: "Everywhere he has worked he has done well and he has been popular - I think he can do well.
"He has to adapt himself to a big challenge because to be England team manager is very, very big. For a Brazilian it is something very important.
"Back in Brazil people like him so much. He is very popular and people really like his style."
Leonardo, who played for AC Milan, Valencia and Paris Saint-Germain, will be working as a pundit during the World Cup.
Scolari considers England options
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed he has had talks with the Football Association about replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson as England coach.
Scolari says it was an "informal" chat with the Portuguese FA's consent but insists a deal is far from finalised.
"The coach has still not been chosen," Scolari told the website of Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias.
"There are four or five names and in seven or 15 days it will be settled. My situation with Portugal is the same."
Sir Stanley understands no contract has been signed but talks between Scolari and FA chief executive Brian Barwick in Lisbon on Wednesday went well.
It is believed the two men have an agreement in principle for Scolari to take the job but details have yet to be finalised.
The 57-year-old Brazilian's contract with Portugal expires on 31 July and he has a gentleman's agreement not to commit himself to another job until his current deal runs out.
But it is understood part of the FA's talks in Lisbon were about waiving this arrangement.
Scolari added: "It was a simple talk, informal and with the consent of the Portuguese Football Federation, and up until 31 July no-one knows what is going to happen.
"The FA is checking out names and one of them is mine. I have to be happy with being remembered. But I don't have an agreement except with Portugal.
"The job, the work situation, technical conditions were talked about.
"But I don't have just this offer. I've got other teams, national sides and clubs. That's the life of a professional. I always honour my contracts.
"I've already had proposals from Real Madrid and Barcelona that I said no to, and that I'd only talk after the end of the contract. No one is guaranteeing that I'll stay in Portugal.
"And you ask, what if we lost in the first round of the World Cup? Would there be anyone that would like it if I stayed in Portugal? No.
"I must listen to all proposals because my contract finishes in July and it is normal for a manager to do this."
On Thursday at a dinner with Portuguese football federation officials, Scolari was quoted as saying Barwick had offered him the chance to manage England for seven years.
"He laid out contracts for five and seven years on the table," Scolari was reported as telling The Times.
"The official said, 'We should speak English'. I said 'Speak what you want.'
"I didn't speak Arabian in Arabia, but I am learning English."
FA says Scolari deal not yet done
A senior Football Association source has told Sir Stanley that talks with Luiz Felipe Scolari are "far from over".
But the source says the FA will be in a position to name Sven-Goran Eriksson's replacement as early as next Friday.
Portugal coach Scolari, 57, confirmed he was in talks with the FA on Friday but said he had only had an "informal" chat with FA chief Brian Barwick.
The source also dismissed as "rubbish" reports that Scolari was looking to earn a higher salary than Eriksson.
Scolari had earlier on Friday told a Portuguese newspaper website that he had not as yet been offered the England job.
"The coach has still not been chosen," the Brazilian told Diario de Noticias.
"There are four or five names and in seven or 15 days it will be settled. My situation with Portugal is the same."
Sir Stanley understands no contract has been signed but talks between Scolari and FA chief executive Brian Barwick in Lisbon on Wednesday went well.
It is believed the two men have an agreement in principle for Scolari to take the job but details have yet to be finalised.
The 57-year-old's contract with Portugal expires on 31 July and he has a gentleman's agreement not to commit himself to another job until his current deal runs out.
But it is understood part of the FA's talks in Lisbon were about waiving this arrangement.
Scolari said it was perfectly normal for him to consider his options with his present contract soon expiring.
"It was a simple talk, informal and with the consent of the Portuguese Football Federation, and up until 31 July no-one knows what is going to happen," he said.
"The FA is checking out names and one of them is mine. I have to be happy with being remembered. But I don't have an agreement except with Portugal.
"I must listen to all proposals because my contract finishes in July and it is normal for a manager to do this."
Scolari is in Germany until Tuesday to check out Portugal's training camp for the World Cup finals.
Bolton's Sam Allardyce, Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren, Charlton's Alan Curbishley and ex-Celtic boss Martin O'Neill were also all thought to be in the running.
