41 Facts About Luiz Felipe Scolari

Luiz Felipe Scolari, known as Felipao, is a Brazilian football manager and former player.

Luiz Felipe Scolari led them to victory at the 2013 Confederations Cup, and to the semi-final in the 2014 World Cup.

Luiz Felipe Scolari is a dual citizen of Brazil and Italy, as he is descended from Italian immigrants.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was born in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's playing career encompassed spells with Caxias, Juventude, Novo Hamburgo, and CSA; he often captained his sides.

Luiz Felipe Scolari stayed for just three matches, losing all of them.

Luiz Felipe Scolari coached Criciuma to their first major national title, in the 1991 Copa do Brasil.

Luiz Felipe Scolari returned to club management in the Middle East, managing Al-Ahli and a second spell at Al Qadisiya.

In 1993, Luiz Felipe Scolari returned to Gremio, where, albeit leading the team to historic victories, he was criticized by the Brazilian media for playing a pragmatic style of football regarded as "un-Brazilian".

Luiz Felipe Scolari claimed six titles in only three years, including the 1995 Copa Libertadores, which qualified Gremio for the Intercontinental Cup, which they lost to Dutch side Ajax on penalties.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's team featured no real superstar and depended on workman-like players such as Paraguayan right back Francisco Arce, tough-tackling midfielder Dinho, Paulo Nunes, and centre forward Mario Jardel.

In 1997, Scolari became manager of J League side Jubilo Iwata, but left after eleven games and shortly afterwards took charge of Palmeiras back in Brazil.

In three years as manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari led Palmeiras to the Copa do Brasil, the Mercosur Cup, and their first Copa Libertadores title with a win on penalties over Deportivo Cali of Colombia.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was named South American Coach of the Year for 1999.

In 2000, Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed to manage Minas Gerais club Cruzeiro, coaching them for a year.

In June 2001, Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed manager of his native Brazil, who, with five qualifying matches ahead, were in jeopardy of not qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which would be a first in the Brazilian competitive record.

Luiz Felipe Scolari managed Portugal through the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where they reached the semi-finals, again coming out victorious in the quarterfinals against England.

Luiz Felipe Scolari took Portugal to Euro 2008, where they reached the knock-out stages by placing first in Group A before being eliminated by Germany in the quarter-finals.

Luiz Felipe Scolari took over as manager of Chelsea on 1 July 2008.

In previous press conferences, Luiz Felipe Scolari had talked about "tantrums" and "triumphs" and had a reputation as a tough and unpredictable person.

On 6 June 2009, Luiz Felipe Scolari was spotted in attendance at Uzbekistan's World Cup qualifier against Japan; on 8 June 2009, Luiz Felipe Scolari revealed that he had signed an 18-month contract with the Uzbekistani champions FC Bunyodkor.

Luiz Felipe Scolari left by mutual consent on 29 May 2010 after failing to guide Bunyodkor past the last 16 in the AFC Champions League, although he cited concern regarding his son's education as the key reason.

On 13 June 2010, Luiz Felipe Scolari was announced as Palmeiras' new manager.

In September 2012, Luiz Felipe Scolari left by mutual consent after an unsatisfying result in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

In November 2012, after two months without a club, Luiz Felipe Scolari returned to managing the Brazil national team, replacing the outgoing Mano Menezes.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was tasked with securing a win in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, in which Brazil would be hosts.

Luiz Felipe Scolari had previously won the 2002 FIFA World Cup as manager of Brazil.

Luiz Felipe Scolari described the match as "the worst day of [his] life", and took responsibility for the loss.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was officially unveiled by the club the following day at the Arena do Gremio.

On 19 May 2015, Luiz Felipe Scolari resigned from his position after a poor start to the season.

On 4 June 2015, Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed head coach of Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande, signing a one-and-a-half plus one-year contract.

Luiz Felipe Scolari extended his contract for one year on 24 October 2016 after his potential successor Marcello Lippi was appointed as the manager of China national team.

Luiz Felipe Scolari led Guangzhou win three consecutive league titles from 2015 to 2017.

Luiz Felipe Scolari refused to extend his contract again by the end of 2017 season.

On 27 July 2018, Luiz Felipe Scolari returned to Brazilian side Palmeiras for a third time.

On 15 October 2020, Luiz Felipe Scolari returned to manage the football team of Cruzeiro.

On 7 July 2021, Luiz Felipe Scolari returned to Gremio for the fourth time, with the goal of moving the team out of the last place in the Brasileiro Serie A and fighting for the Copa Sudamericana.

On 4 May 2022, Luiz Felipe Scolari was hired by Athletico Paranaense as a technical director, being a manager of the first team "until new definitions".

Luiz Felipe Scolari holds Italian citizenship, since his family emigrated from Veneto.

Luiz Felipe Scolari is a fan of Gremio, and was reported to be a fan of Nottingham Forest, having watched their successes under Brian Clough in the 1970s.

In Brazil, Luiz Felipe Scolari is known as "Felipao", and during his stint with Chelsea, he was sometimes referred by the English translation, Big Phil.