Brazil boss Scolari 'hurt' by missed opportunity to coach England

Feb 6, 2013 10:55:00 AM

The current Selecao manager was in the running to take over from Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2006 but ruled himself out of the running because of his contract with Portugal

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has revealed his regret at not taking the England manager's job in 2006.

The 64-year-old is in his second spell in charge of the Selecao, the Three Lions' Wembley opponents on Wednesday evening, and was approached by the Football Association six-and-a-half years ago to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson.

After the FA offered a long-term deal to the Brazilian prior to World Cup 2006, Scolari U-turned, citing the intrusive nature of the British press as his reason for pulling out of the running.

Yet he spoke in a Tuesday press conference of the “hurt” he suffered, despite admitting that he did not want to break his contract with Portugal - England's eventual conquerors at the tournament in Germany.

“Of course it hurts,” he said. “It hurts a lot, because I would have loved to have been manager of the England national team. Who wouldn’t?”

“When I was invited to be national coach of England, when we sat together at that time, I still had a contract with Portugal.

“I wasn’t willing to break that contract – it was my duty to fulfil it. Imagine in 2006 if we had played together and I already had a contract with England!

“But England are a wonderful team and I hope I will have the opportunity to talk to Lampard and Ashley Cole at the game, to wish them the best. You never know what might happen one day.”

Inside Goal.Com

Real Madrid are better off without Mourinho
The Portuguese's position had become untenable in recent weeks, especially after Friday's debacle in the Copa del Rey. Now he's leaving, but the club can grow stronger without him
Bayern's jinx - CL final referee Nicola Rizzoli
Goal takes a look at the career of the Italian arbiter to date following Uefa's decision to appoint the 41-year-old for Saturday's showpiece at Wembley
Wanyama’s star continues to shine
This week, Wanyama bagged the prestigious SPL Young Player of the Year award adding on to his Celtic Young honor, which he bagged three weeks ago
The men behind up surge of four premiership clubs
Goal.com takes a critical look at four teams; City Stars, Thika Utd, KCB and Chemelil, teams that have shown tremendous degree of competition so far this season
Who is the greatest Champions League striker ever?
Enter our competition now and you will be in with a chance of winning one of four replica football shirts. Simply pick your favourite and subscribe to our YouTube channel