New Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari with his former club Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on January 28, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) (2009 Getty Images)
SAO PAULO – Brazil is hoping to repeat its 2002 World Cup magic on their home field.
After firing head coach Mano Menezes, the Brazilian soccer federation hired Luiz Felipe Scolari on Thursday to lead the national team through the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The former Chelsea and Portugal coach, who has been without a job since leaving Brazilian club Palmeiras, led Brazil to its fifth World Cup title at the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.
Fans called for the popular Scolari's return after Menezes left, chanting his name in recent matches the national team played in Brazil.
The announcement gives Brazil a coach ahead of the Confederations Cup draw on Saturday, when the host will find out the team it will play the opener in June.
The federation also announced Thursday that Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title in the United States, will be the national team's coordinator. Parreira also coached Brazil in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The duo will lead a team with few experienced players but filled with young, promising stars such as Neymar, Oscar and Lucas.
"I wish a lot of luck to my friend Parreira and to Felipao," former Brazil striker Romario said. "We know that now we will have the best players picked for the team."
The 64-year-old Scolari had said his goal was to end his career by coaching a national team during the World Cup in Brazil.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
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