It’s FC Bunyodkor’s Gene Hackman look-alike Luiz Felipe Scolari!
Since arriving in Italy, Jose Mourinho’s €11m salary has cemented his status as the best paid manager in the world. This morning, however, it has been revealed that The Special One’s huge remuneration package has been eclipsed by that of another Chelsea alumnus. After signing an eighteen-month contract with Uzbekistani side FC Bunyodkor, Big Phil Scolari will now take home an annual pay packet of €13m.
Bunyodkur - who recently changed their name from PFC Kuruvchi to “reflect their success” - first came to international prominence last summer, when they claimed to have secured the services of Samuel Eto’o. Despite the Cameroonian’s passionate love for clubs who are willing to pay him more money than he is worth, the deal never went through.
Since the Eto’o spectacle, Bunyodkur have introduced several Brazilians to their side,
World Cup winning manager joins the prestigious Uzbek League
Last summer, an Uzbek side named PFC Kuruvchi tried to make us believe they had signed Samuel Eto’o, and then raised a few eyebrows when they invited Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol to train with them.
Since then, PFC have changed their name to FC Bunyodkor (to reflect their professionalism on the pitch, apparently), and acquired the services of 37-year-old World Cup cheat Rivaldo (for a ridiculous £80,000 a week) and manager Zico.
Zico departed for CKSA Moscow in January, leaving the head coach’s position wide open. According to the Brazilian press, Luiz Felipe Scolari has stepped up and signed an 18-month contract with the club.
Yes, some crazy person had enough free time to make this
Admittedly, Sister Act/ footballer mash-ups are exactly common, but this is by far the best example we’ve seen. Stick with it until (2.40) for an angelic Cristiano Ronaldo solo.
Big Phil could find himself gainful employment very soon
The Spoiler’s most reliable Premier League informant has whispered us a rumour for which he is willing to put his credibility on the line : Mark Hughes will be sacked by Manchester City tomorrow, and will be replaced by Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Is the World Cup winner the answer to the Citizens’ prayers? Or is he an unsuitable choice who will, at best, get Robinho to put in some effort? Let us know below…
UPDATE: The source of this information was a former Premier League manager, who let it slip at an industry shindig last night. He also mentioned the Roy Keane appointment before it hit the press.
France Football yesterday released their annual list of the world’s highest earning footballers, and David Beckham has come out on top, with total earnings of €32.4m in 2008.
The England star is paid around £4m a year for his services on the pitch (a figure that is currently being covered by loan club Milan in giant novelty cheque form), but is able to afford rocket cars, solid gold mansions and lobsters stuffed with diamonds thanks to his endorsement deals with Adidas, Gilette, Pepsi, Sharpies and anyone else with enough money afford his beautiful face. Interestingly, he also receives a share of ticket and merchandise sales at the MLS club he has absolutely no desire to play for.
All the usual suspects feature in the top ten highest earners, which you can check out after the jump…
The folks at France Football magazine has a knack of extracting unusually honest quotes from those in the world of football, and they have excelled themselves in their latest interview with Big Phil Scolari.
The former Chelsea boss opened up to the French mag before he was sacked, admitting that he had no relationship with players off the field:
“In Brazil (as a club manager) it was also easier. I knew everything about the players. Here, I don’t have a family relation with the players. Everything is on the pitch. Outside, there is nothing.”
The Brazilian manager also expressed his disappointment at the club’s failure to capture Robinho:
“In the past (Arjen) Robben was at Chelsea and he could make the difference. But now there is no-one.
“Robinho could have been this player. He is not afraid to dribble, to take a risk, As a Brazilian, I like this.
“My team isn’t Brazilian enough. It is a ‘bureaucratic’ team.
German’s role in Scolari’s demise has been greatly exaggerated
Anyone who picked up a copy of The Times this morning could be forgiven for thinking that Michael Ballack has been patting himself of the back after supposedly persuading Roman Abramovich that Luiz Felipe Scolari was the wrong man for the Chelsea job.
However, those suggestions appear to have been shot down by the German midfielder, who has today expressed sadness at Scolari’s dismissal as well as becoming the latest Chelsea player to toe the “it’s all our fault really” line.
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