Scolari Resigns as Brazil Coach

Forty days after leading his team to victory in the World Cup, Luiz Felipe Scolari resigned Friday as coach of Brazil.

He said he was doing so for two reasons: his desire to coach in Europe and a longing to devote more time to his family, which had urged him to step aside from one of the most demanding posts in international soccer.

“I would like to work in Europe; it is one of my targets,” Scolari, 53, said in Rio de Janeiro. “I want to say that any club that hires me will become winners. And if they are already winners, then they will win even more.”

During his 14 months in charge, the sometimes acerbic Scolari turned a Brazilian team that was floundering and in danger of not qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in history into a world champion, Brazil winning its record fifth title.

Ricardo Teixeira, president of the Brazilian soccer federation urged Scolari to stay on, but his final game in charge will be an Aug. 21 friendly against Paraguay in Fortaleza, Brazil, for which he has called up his entire World Cup-winning team.

“It was gratifying that [Teixeira] wanted me to stay, but I have a lot of private things to resolve and I would like to dedicate more time to my family.... This is a difficult and sad moment, but it’s finished,” Scolari said.

Arena to Return

Bruce Arena, who coached the United States to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, will remain as national coach.

Arena is in contract negotiations with U.S. Soccer, whose president, Robert Contiguglia, said Friday he hoped to have everything settled “as quickly as possible, hopefully within the next 30 days.”

Meanwhile, Contiguglia--who has been president of U.S. Soccer for the past four years--will be president for the next four years.

Contiguglia, 60, was reelected by unanimous acclaim at the federation’s annual general meeting in San Francisco.