Wednesday, 6th February, 2013
Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari admits that he is disappointed he did not become England coach in 2006.
Scolari, then in charge of Portugal, turned down the role due to fears over press intrusion into his life – and it is something that still hurts him today.
Instead Scolari remained in charge of Portugal, leading them in Euro 2008 after a fourth place finish in the 2006 World Cup. He is now back in charge of Brazil, his homeland, and the country he led to World Cup success in 2002.
"Of course it hurts. It hurts a lot because I would have loved to have been manager of the England national team. Who wouldn’t", Scolari was quoted as saying by the BBC.
"When I was invited to be national coach of England, when we sat together at that time, I still had a contract with the Portugal national team. And I wasn’t willing to break that contract.
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"It was my duty to fulfil that contract. Imagine in 2006 if we had played together? And I already had a contract with the England national team?"
Scolari leads his Brazil side against England in a friendly at Wembley this evening as the South American giants step up their preparation for the 2014 World Cup they will host.
Brazil also have the Confederations Cup to look forward to this coming summer.
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