Rio De Janeiro, Aug 10: Luis Felipe Scolari, the man who coached Brazil to a fifth World Cup triumph in the summer, announced today that he was quitting his job. "I want to tell you that I am no longer the coach of the Brazilian national team," Scolari told a press conference citing family reasons for his decision to leave just five weeks after leading Brazil to a 2-0 win over Germany in the World Cup final in Yokohama. Scolari said that he was happy that the country's top soccer bosses had wanted him to stay.

"But I have done my work here and I have informed the president of my family reasons and it is to them that I want to devote more time."

Scolari added that, eventually, he would try and work as a coach in Europe but that he had no intention of seeking out a new club job before the end of the year and that he will see out his contract with Brazil which officially comes to an end on August 21 when the team faces Paraguay in Fortaleza. Scolari had told reporters two weeks ago that he wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to stay on as coach and was scheduled to meet with Brazilian soccer bosses to decide his future.

Despite the win over Germany, Scolari had endured periods of stiff criticism aimed at his coaching methods.

Most of the flak came during the team's tortuous south American qualifying campaign where they finished behind Argentina and Ecuador.

Bureau Report