Scolari is the new Chelsea boss

Chelsea have confirmed Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new manager.

The Brazilian was one of the favourites to succeed Avram Grant in the Stamford Bridge hotseat but the timing of his appointment has come as a surprise.

Scolari is currently managing Portugal at Euro 2008 and was not expected to make a decision about his future until after the tournament.

A statement from Stamford Bridge read:

"Chelsea Football Club is delighted to confirm that Luiz Felipe Scolari will be the club's new manager from July 1, 2008.

Out of respect for his current role as Head Coach of the Portuguese national team, and to ensure minimum disruption to this work, there will be no further comment from Chelsea FC nor from Felipe about his new role until his employment with us commences."

Despite a number of big-name managers being linked with the job following Avram Grant's sacking last month, it is understood Scolari was always Chelsea's number one choice and nobody else was offered the position.

He is likely to be unveiled during the first week of July, at which time the details of his contract will also be revealed although figures of £6.25m per annum are being floated.

Before becoming an international manager, he enjoyed success at club level in Brazil, winning South America's equivalent of the Champions League - the Copa Libertadores - with two different clubs.

The 59-year-old has no experience of managing at club level in Europe.

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Scolari doesn't say no to Chelsea - but is it a yes?

Luiz Felipe Scolari refused to rule himself out of the race to become Chelsea's manager last night but also effectively told the London club that they would have to wait until his participation at Euro 2008 with Portugal had ended before he would give serious consideration to an approach from them.

The Portugal manager, preparing Portugal for a Group A tie against Turkey, insisted that his squad had his total focus.

The Brazilian has been in this situation before. In the countdown to Euro 2004 with Portugal he was linked with the job at Benfica. Before the 2006 World Cup he was touted as England's next manager. On both occasions and for different reasons he came out on the eve of the tournament to make it clear that he would not accept the jobs. Not this time.

"I am here as the Portugal coach; I am going to work hard with the Portugal squad until the end of the Euro, which may be the first phase, the second phase or, if it is up to me, June 29 [the date of the final]," said Scolari, who will be out of contract at the end of the championship, as he was after the last World Cup.

"What is going to happen to me, whether I stay or leave, concerns me [only] and I am not going to talk about it now. I am only going to make a public declaration after the Euro.

"If something happens during the Euro, I am not going to answer [questions about it]. Something might happen one way or another and things might go this way or that but I am here to work for Portugal.

"I started to work for Portugal for 2004, 2006 and 2008; I might sign again or I might leave. It's a situation I'm going to examine, but I'm not going to answer this sort of question or talk about it and I'm going to stay quiet. I'm going to talk to my family and examine the possibilities, then I will decide."

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Jose Mourinho moves in to Inter Milan job.

The former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been confirmed as the new manager of Internazionale.

A press statement on the Inter Milan website read "The whole Internazionale organisation takes great pleasure in welcoming Jose Mourinho and his colleagues."

The Portuguese has signed a three-year contract with the Nerazzuri, and will work alongside his former Chelsea colleagues Rui Farias, Silvino Louro and Andre Vilas-Boas at the San Siro. Giuseppe Baresi, previously director of Inter's youth programmes, will be Mourinho's assistant.

As I revealed 6 days ago when writing about Roberto Mancini's departure, the shadow of Mourinho always loomed large over this job after it was apparent that neither of the Spanish giants wanted to try Mourinho's negative brand of football management.

The arrival of Mourinho at Inter is likely to increase the speculation over the future of several of his former Chelsea players, particularly Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho.

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Why did Mourinho leave? Video evidence!

OK - it's just a parody - and it's quite old - but this one made me laugh.



Drogba - get up !!

and just to show that Jose Morinho actually had a sense of humour - take a look at this genuine response to a surprise question at a Chelsea interview session.



Mr Mourinho was happy to answer the question - despite the "PR suit" trying to sidestep it all - I think I'm developing a soft spot for Jose now he's gone.

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Mourinho back to Chelsea ?

Could Jose Mourinho be back at Stamford Bridge as early as December?

Well that's one possiblity as it seems that "the special one" is odds on to get the vacant manager's job at Valencia who will be visiting Chelsea in the Champions League on December 11.

Mourinho is quoted at 4/7, with the closest other candidate Fabio Capello at 5/1.

See This bookielabrat post for all the odds quotes.

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Hou's in at Man City ?

Gerard Houllier is now the favourite to be the next Manchester City manager following the news that former market favourite Claudio Ranieri has taken over at Juventus.

Ex-Chelsea manager Ranieri left his role at Parma last week after leading the club to Serie A safety and had been widely expected to join Manchester City.

However, Juventus have installed Ranieri as the successor to Didier Deschamps to take charge in their return to Serie A.

It all means a wide-open market again for the City job and Houllier tops the Betfair prices at 4/1 at BetDirect while Juande Ramos (who?) has popped up and is favourite at some bookmakers now.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has also shortened to betwen 3.50 to 5.50 while Gordon Strachan can be got at 18.50 at BetFair

While it's double figure prices and upwards about the rest with Billy Davis, Co Adriaanse, GRaeme Souness and Paul Jewell all getting some action.

Be careful though - as Ranieri had been backed at as short as 1/2 with Sky Bet for the Eastlands vacancy while he's traded at a low of 1/8 on Betfair.

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New Newcastle Manager : Sven will we know ?

Sam? Sven? or Shearer?

Having been backed at a low of 1/33 for the job when the Betfair betting opened on Monday, Sam Allardyce is out to 1/3 for the Newcastle manager's position after other names were linked with the post today.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been backed at a high of 49/1, but he is now into the 9/1 second favourite on Betfair.

Favourites to be the next Newcastle manager at Betfair :
1/3 Allardyce, 9/1 Eriksson, 22/1 Houllier, 33/1 Shearer,

And some no-hopers if you feel like donating your money away ... :
49/1 Pardew, 59/1 Coleman, 69/1 Juande Ramos, Bruce, 100/1+ Others.

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Top Managers Betting on Football ?

The Football Association is to investigate allegations that several Premiership managers have laid bets on top-flight matches. FA rules forbid managers and players betting on competitions they are involved in.

"We will see if there has been any breach of our regulations and we would welcome any information that would help our inquiries," said an FA spokesman.

The claims were made by a former employee of bookmakers Victor Chandler but the bookmaker has obtained a High Court injunction prohibiting the naming of the managers accused.

"He wants to maintain his clients' right to privacy," said PR guru Max Clifford, who has been representing Gibraltar-based Chandler.

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Gooner says :

You might well think that HARRY REDKNAPP would be at the top of that list ... but I cannot possibly comment ...

But we can recommend VCBet as a good place to have a punt ... eh Harry ??

;-)

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