Big Phil is back!

Day -943. WorldCup2018.

It gives me great pleasure and enjoyment to announce that the, or at least my, cult hero of Brazil 2014 has resurrected his good name in China. Luis Felipe Scolari, the would be bringer of ultimate World Cup joy to the people of Brazil turned overseer of Brazil's biggest World Cup humiliation has struck gold with Guangzhou Evergrande of China. As recently crowned winners of the Asian Champions League, Big Phil is now only the second coach, after Marcelo Lippi, to win the continental club championship on two continents and a World Cup.

This is the man who was expected to deliver World Cup glory with the questionable talents of Fred, Hulk and Jo and David Luiz's reliance on help from the heavens rather than any defensive skill. After the Germans laughed their way around the pitch in their 7-1 demolition of the Brazilian dreams, Scolari was expected to drift off into the footballing sunset. Three weeks later he was back at where it all started, Gremio, where he won the Copa Libertadores in 1995. The deliverance from footballing hell didn't last long. He was soon off, walking out at the beginning of his second season saying he could do no more to improve the team.

Finally, in China, he is back to being a winner. And the relevance to Russia 2018? There is none really, yet. With Big Phil back in the winners' circle, who knows what underdog country will come calling for the man with the big character, looking for a World Cup miracle.