Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande have announced on June 4, Thursday, the replacement of Fabio Cannavaro by Brazilian star coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who will lead the four-time champion team, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
According to the report, Scolari signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Guangzhou Evergrande.
The Chinese club, also the 2013 AFC Champions League winners, announced the replacement after it sacked Cannavaro, following the 2-2 home draw with Tianjin Teda in the 13th round on June 4, Thursday.
The club said that the change of coach was made to meet the team's strategic needs and said that they will hold a press conference in a few days.
The report said that Cannavaro was asked to take charge of Guangzhou Evergrande last December, following the resignation of Marcello Lippi.
"We believe Scolari fits our club's strategy and ambition," a top official of the club told Xinhua.
"We also believe Scolari will not only improve our club, but also help Chinese soccer," he added.
"The reason for the change is the same as before. We always focus on the strategy instead of the results of games," he noted.
The report said that Scolari was first contacted by Guangzhou Evergrande in 2012, but the Brazilian coach did not say yes then.
Scolari had helped Brazil win the FIFA World Cup in 2002, and led Portugal to the runner-ups in the European Championship in 2004. The 66-year-old coach again took the reins of Brazil for the 2014 World Cup, but stepped down after Germany defeated Brazil, 7-1, during the semifinal.