Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari hired as Chelsea manager

LONDON — Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will become Chelsea's manager after the European Championship.

The Premier League club announced Avram Grant's replacement on its Web site Wednesday after Scolari's side secured a quarterfinal berth by beating the Czech Republic 3-1.

Billionaire owner Roman Abramovich's hiring of a World Cup winner is starkly different from the inexperienced Grant's appointment last September.

Scolari, who guided his native Brazil to its fifth world title in 2002, will start at Chelsea on July 1.

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo backed the move and could face Scolari next season if he stays at Manchester United.

"He needs to look for his future. I respect that," Ronaldo said. "If he has better conditions, better things for the family and for him, I respect that. This is football, it's always like that."

Scolari's Portugal lost the Euro 2004 final in Lisbon to Greece and was ousted by France in the 2006 World Cup semifinals.

"It would be hard to leave, for the beauty of the country and for all that Portugal has," Scolari said Tuesday. "It's hard, but I'm a professional. I lived and I can live anywhere in the world. I have to be prepared for anything."

The 59-year-old former defender has never managed a European club, but has won the Copa Libertadores -- South America's knockout competition -- with Brazilian clubs Gremio and Palmeiras.

Scolari spurned the chance to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager in 2006 after being aggravated by the English media intrusion and because he didn't want to make a decision before -- or during -- the World Cup.

Scolari is due to hold a press conference in Switzerland on Thursday. His spokesman didn't have any immediate comment.

"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 in a statement.

Grant left Stamford Bridge last month after finishing second to Manchester United in the Premier League title race and the Champions League, while being beaten by Tottenham in February's League Cup final.

Most 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 after replacing Claudio Ranieri in 2004.