China calling: Father figure Scolari's last hurrah

RIO DE JANEIRO - Luiz Felipe Scolari was midway through what would prove to be his last press conference as Brazil coach when Neymar unexpectedly entered the room.

Brazil had just lost 3-0 to the Netherlands at Brasilia's Mane Garrincha stadium in the match for the World Cup's third place, three days after a calamitous 7-1 semifinal defeat to Germany.

Scolari cut a forlorn figure as he wearily arched over a microphone to respond to the clamoring press pack.

Upon seeing a misty-eyed Neymar walk through a side door, Scolari's eyes lit up. He immediately rose to his feet. The two men embraced and exchanged consoling words, and for a moment it seemed we were inside Brazil's dressing room or Scolari's living room. Then Neymar left, as abruptly as he'd arrived.

It was a raw, emotion-charged moment; one to which those outside football's inner circle are rarely privy. Neymar's heartfelt gesture was a public show of solidarity with his coach when he most needed it.

It also exemplified the family-like spirit and affection that Scolari engenders among his teams.

"Felipao is a docile man, a dear friend," former Brazil captain Thiago Silva said during last year's World Cup.

"He speaks to us and gives us advice about anything. Nobody who has ever played under him has a bad word to say about him as a coach or a person."

Such traits will not have been lost on Guangzhou Evergrande officials, who on Thursday announced the 66-year-old as their new coach, replacing Fabio Cannavaro.

The Chinese Super League club will know that foremost in Scolari's planning is to build unity among his players. His motto is that no player - and the Brazilian has coached some good ones - is bigger than the team.

Scolari showed his doting qualities long before his most recent spell as coach of Brazil's national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo still calls Scolari "dad" for the role he played in moulding him on and off the pitch when he was Portugal coach from 2002 to 2008.

During Scolari's first spell in charge of the Selecao, his squads were often called the Scolari Family by Brazil's media. The coach's ability to bring players together and extinguish egos was paramount to the team's 2002 World Cup triumph, headlined by the fabled R triumvirate of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.

Of course, being a nice man with strong family values does not necessarily make a good football coach.

Scolari has also been a fine tactician, pragmatist and man-manager in a coaching career spanning more than three decades.

In three World Cups - two with Brazil and one with Portugal - he has never failed to make the semifinals.

When three-time Champions League-winning coach Carlo Ancelotti was asked recently about the dearth of Brazilian managers at top European clubs, he singled out Scolari as somebody "who had proved himself" as one of the best.

"I don't believe Brazil doesn't have good coaches. Scolari is a great coach. Sometimes results don't go your way and Brazil's results during the World Cup weren't good."

Scolari has also had his detractors, especially in the aftermath of Brazil's humiliating World Cup exit.

None of those critics were more caustic than Brazil's 1970 world Cup-winning captain Carlos Alberto Torres.

According to Carlos Alberto, Scolari committed "suicide" by failing to properly study opponents and eschewing a recognized No. 10.

"There was always a feeling that we had already won, that we were better," Carlos Alberto said. "There was too much euphoria and too little football. It is not normal for Brazil to play without a No. 10 to organize the play. It's unacceptable given the history of Brazil."

Last year's World Cup was not Scolari's first coaching disappointment.

When he was sacked by Chelsea in early 2009 it was reported he faced a revolt from the dressing room, something he has since denied.

In September 2012 he quit eight-time Brazilian Serie A champions Palmeiras after nine defeats in 13 matches left them second-last in the standings.

And as recently as last month, poor results led to Scolari parting ways with Brazil's Gremio - a decision that paved the way for his move to Guangzhou.

Just three-and-a-half years shy of his 70th birthday, Scolari will be on no luxury stroll towards retirement.

The expectations for instant success will be high; Guangzhou have won the past four Chinese Super League titles and Cannavaro was sacked despite the team being equal on points with leaders Shandong Luneng after 13 matches this season.

Anything less than another title this year will be considered not good enough.

Whether or not Scolari still has what it takes to get the best out of his players remains to be seen. But what is already certain is that Guangzhou Evergrande are about to acquire a new comrade, a friend and a father figure.

Regardless of results on the pitch, the Chinese club's players will take their place alongside Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar as part of the extended Scolari family.