Summary Brazil on Thursday officially announced Luiz Felipe Scolari as their coach to lead them.
SAO PAULO - Brazil on Thursday officially announced Luiz Felipe Scolari as their coach to lead them through to the 2014 World Cup finals on home soil, replacing Mano Menezes, sacked last week.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) named 2002 World Cup winner Scolari for a second spell at the helm as he targets a sixth world title with the auriverde in 18 months time, using next year s Confederations Cup, also in Brazil, as a springboard.
Carlos Alberto Parreira, who managed Brazil s successful 1994 World Cup campaign in the United States, will serve as Scolari s technical assistant.
"Our sole commitment is to seek out and offer the best for our football and it is in this vein that we have chosen these two great champions, respected not just in our country but worldwide -- Felipe Scolari and Carlos Alberto Parreira," CBF president Jose Maria Marin told a news conference.
Marin had coyly avoided naming Scolari on Wednesday even as the media plastered the image of the 64-year-old all over newspaper front pages, while saying the CBF wanted "someone who can face up to the pressure of the post."
That pressure -- and inveterate impatience at the CBF to say nothing of demanding fans -- ensured Menezes was a dead man walking after Brazil lost the chance to end their Olympic gold medal duck in losing the London Games final to Mexico.
Scolari is available after recently parting company with Palmeiras last September -- the team were later relegated.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, in Sao Paulo for the unveiling of the Ballon d Or shortlist, welcomed the appointment.
"I am very happy with the decision taken by the CBF. This is a must (the unveiling of a successor to Menezes) as Brazil is preparing not only the World Cup but the Confederations Cup."
Former star Ronaldo, whose goals landed the 2002 World Cup title, added: "Congratulations to him. It s a great challenge for him."
The decision to bring him back has sparked differing responses from ex-stars, including Zico and Carlos Alberto.
