Luiz Felipe Scolari (74) promised to return to coaching after winning the World Cup, and on Friday he came out of retirement to take charge at Brazilian Serie A team Atletico Mineiro until December 2024.

To join the club headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Scolari resigned from his position as technical director at Athletico Paranaense.

He will replace Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet there (48).

During his six-month reign as Athletico's manager last year, Scolari led the team to the Copa Libertadores final.

He then announced his resignation in November, staying on at the club as technical director.

In a colourful career spanning more than 40 years, Scolari has enjoyed success at both club and international level but will be most remembered for his highs and lows with his native Brazil.

Scolari famously led Brazil to their 2002 World Cup triumph in Japan but was also the man in charge when they suffered their most embarrassing defeat, a 7-1 drubbing by Germany at home in the 2014 World Cup semi-final.

He took Portugal to the final of the 2004 European Champion and semi-finals of the World Cup in 2006 before taking charge at Chelsea, where he endured a turbulent seven-month spell before being sacked.

At club level, Scolari has enjoyed success in Brazil and China. He won the Brazilian Serie A and Copa Libertadores with both Gremio and Palmeiras, and the Chinese Super League and Asian Champions League at Guangzhou Evergrande.

Scolari's first game in charge of Atletico will be away to Fluminense on June 21. Atletico are fourth in the league with 18 points from 10 games.