(AP) - Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will become Chelsea manager after the European Championship.
The Premier League club announced Avram Grant's replacement on its Web site Wednesday after Scolari's side beat the Czech Republic 3-1.
Scolari, who guided his native Brazil to the 2002 World Cup, will take up the Chelsea job on July 1.
"Felipe has great qualities," Chelsea said in a statement. "He is one of the world's top coaches with a record of success at country and club level, he gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours.
"He was the outstanding choice."
Chelsea fans will have to wait until the end of Euro 2008 to hear Scolari's plans.
"Out of respect for his current role as head coach of the Portuguese national team, and to ensure minimum disruption to his work, there will be no further comment from Chelsea FC nor from Felipe about his new role until his employment with us commences," Chelsea said.
Grant left Stamford Bridge after finishing second to Manchester United in the Premier League title race and the Champions League.
Fans never warmed to the dour Israeli, ruing the departure of his charismatic predecessor Jose Mourinho, who led the Blues to two Premier League titles.
The Premier League club announced Avram Grant's replacement on its Web site Wednesday after Scolari's side beat the Czech Republic 3-1.
Scolari, who guided his native Brazil to the 2002 World Cup, will take up the Chelsea job on July 1.
"Felipe has great qualities," Chelsea said in a statement. "He is one of the world's top coaches with a record of success at country and club level, he gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours.
"He was the outstanding choice."
Chelsea fans will have to wait until the end of Euro 2008 to hear Scolari's plans.
"Out of respect for his current role as head coach of the Portuguese national team, and to ensure minimum disruption to his work, there will be no further comment from Chelsea FC nor from Felipe about his new role until his employment with us commences," Chelsea said.
Grant left Stamford Bridge after finishing second to Manchester United in the Premier League title race and the Champions League.
Fans never warmed to the dour Israeli, ruing the departure of his charismatic predecessor Jose Mourinho, who led the Blues to two Premier League titles.
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