Scolari keen on coaching in Europe
Pedro Redig
Brazil's World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says he is keen to work in Europe one day as he considers an offer to take charge of Mexico's national team.
"The idea is to work outside Brazil. Mexico have a very well organised project and we've agreed to leave a decision until November 30," Scolari said in an interview with Reuters in London on Tuesday.
"I had other proposals and this invitation from Arsenal and the English federation (Football Association)," he said after arriving from Mexico City, where he was interviewed for the Mexico job.
"But I would like to work in Europe if possible. It's a challenge that a Brazilian coach should begin to think of taking up so that he can then attract other coaches in this direction."
Scolari, who decided against staying on as Brazil's coach after steering his country to their fifth world title in June, is making a private 48-hour visit to England.
He will be meeting Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger at the club's training ground north of London on Wednesday, where he will see his World Cup midfielder Gilberto Silva, who has been a great success since joining the English champions this season.
"Gilberto Silva is a very steady, calm person. There will never be any problems with Gilberto here in England," Scolari said.
"He's an exemplary athlete on and off the pitch... He was one of the best players tactically in the Cup. The people of Arsenal are very satisfied."
FA GUEST
Scolari then travels down to Southampton to watch England's European championship qualifier against Macedonia on Wednesday evening as a guest of the FA.
He continues the European leg of his trip in Italy, where he will observe training sessions given by fellow coaches Fabio Capello at AS Roma, Marcello Lippi at Juventus, Hector Cuper at Inter Milan and AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti.
Scolari believes Brazilian coaches, like their players, have a lot of qualities to bring to the European game.
"A Brazilian coach can bring some of the technical training we do in South America with the ball," he said.
"He can adapt to European organisation and then there will be a situation of total identification between the athletes and the coach and the fans. I'm sure all will benefit."
Scolari, who thinks England have a good chance of going all the way in the European championship, said Belgium were Brazil's most difficult opponents at the World Cup when they met in the second round, the first knockout stage.
"England have players with many qualities and (coach Sven-Goran) Eriksson works well," he said of the side Brazil beat 2-1 in the quarter-finals, adding that the two teams knew a lot about each other.
"Belgium were less of a known quantity and Brazil feared a surprise," Scolari added. "Belgium was a sniper."
