Scolari eyes Asia return, in talks with UAE: Agent

Luiz Felipe Scolari, who guided Brazil to World Cup title in 2002, is considering several offers to coach in Asia.  The 71-year-old has been out of work since last September, when he was sacked by Palmeiras just nine months after leading the club to the Brazilian Serie A title, reports Xinhua news agency.

“There have been inquiries from three or four clubs from the Middle East,” Scolari told TV Globo recently. “We still don’’t know what will happen, but I believe that in 15, 20 or 30 days a decision will be made,” he added.

His agent, Jorge Machado has told Fox Sports, that Scolari has turned down national team opportunities to take up role at club football.

“We have two very strong contacts from Asia. As soon as they open the borders, we will enter into contact. One is from China, the other from the UAE.”

Since guiding Brazil to victory at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, Scolari has held coaching roles in five different countries. Among them was a spell as Portugal boss and a second stint in charge of Brazil.

His most successful job at club level was his time with Guangzhou Evergrande from June 2015 to November 2017, which included three consecutive Chinese Super League titles and an Asian Champions League crown.

In November, Scolari had said that he missed Chinese football and expressed a desire to return to coach there in the future.

Meanwhile, Zlatko Dalic is out of contention from becoming UAE manager after agreeing to extend his contract with Croatian national team, according to reports.

The former Al Ain manager was among the contenders to succeed Ivan Jovanovic, who was sacked last week by UAEFA.

Another former Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic and Shabab Al Ahli coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena are among the possible options to fill in the post.

Mamic coached with Al Ain for two seasons till his departure to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia in early 2019.

Jovanovic, who won four Cypriot league titles with APOEL Nicosia and reached the 2012 Champions League quarter-finals with them, took over at UAE in December on a six-month contract in a bid to reach the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

The 57-year-old former Al Nasr coach had replaced Dutchman Bert van Marwijk in December last year.

But the Serbian’s short term-deal has come to an end without even taking charge of a game.

Jovanovic managed Nasr across two spells. Initially, he spent more than three years at Dubai’s Al Maktoum Stadium from June 2013, where he ended the club’s 25-year wait for silverware by capturing three trophies in two seasons.

The pandemic brought to a halt World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers before Jovanovic could make his debut, leaving the UAE fourth in their World Cup qualifying group on four points from as many games behind Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand.