Post by DJ on Apr 27, 2006 16:35:34 GMT 10
Luiz Felipe Scolari has been offered the job of England manager and is discussing terms with the Football Assocation, the BBC 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 are due to meet again next Thursday and had hoped to be in a position to finalise their 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 were 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.
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 are due to meet again next Thursday and had hoped to be in a position to finalise their 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 were 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.
