The legendary former Brazilian football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is leaving his well-compensated post in the Uzbekistan soccer club Bunyodkor and is looking to return to either Europe or his homeland, he told Reuters today.
Last June, Scolari was unveiled as the new manager of Bunyodkor, Uzbekistan’s richest soccer club, which has been cited in world media for its lucrative player contracts.
Uzbekistan seemed rather farflung for a coach of Scolari's renown -- he was famous for having led Brazil to World Cub victory in 2002. The 61-year-old coach was believed to have signed an 18-month contract originally last year, but told Reuters the club needs to cut costs and wants to break off his contract.
Last April, Bunyodkor benefited from a huge tax break extended to Uzbek soccer clubs. The tax exemption covered customs duties on imports, construction materials and other fees except for social insurance payments. Although the old stadium was only one year old at the time, last year Bunyodkov felt flush enough to start construction of a new $150 million 35,000-seat stadium. It was supposed to open in March.
But with all of Zeromax's troubles, the project may be among construction jobs halted for now pending a government probe.
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