Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned from Guangzhou Evergrande after guiding the team to their record seventh straight Chinese Super League title.
Guangzhou hammered Guizhou Zhicheng 5-1 on 22nd October which left them with a nine point lead over second-placed Shanghai SIPG. The side went on to lose their following two league games to Hebei CFFC and Tianjin Quanjian 3-0 and 2-1 respectively.
Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari who took over this appointment from Fabio Cannavaro in June 2015, has led the Chinese Super League side to three of their league titles as well as the Asian Champions League and Chinese FA Cup.
The Brazilian initially signed with the club for 18 months but his contract was extended for a further year at the end of last season. However the 68-year-old has now confirmed that he will not be there next season although hasn’t ruled out continuing to work in China.
Rivals Shanghai SIPG had spent more than US$150 million(£114.7 million) over the last two years to lure big-name players like Brazilians Oscar and Hulk to the club, whilst Scolari’s club profited from a philosophy that put team unity ahead of individual talent.
Scolari spoke of decision to leave the team on Sunday.
“My story with Evergrande is finished,” Scolari he said.
“But my story with China may continue. I will carefully think about it. No one knows where we are heading, but I hope Evergrande club can have a bright future.
“I don’t know if I will come back to China. I will make my decision carefully. My football life has taken me all over the world, but China is one the three best places that I’ve ever worked.”
Chinese media have linked Italians Carlo Ancelotti and Cannavaro with the coaching position at Guangzhou, who are expected to name Scolari’s successor within the next week.
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