BEIJING, China (AFP) — Former Brazil Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was unveiled as the new manager of Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande yesterday, replacing Fabio Cannavaro just six months after the Italian took up the reins.

Scolari signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Guangzhou, the Xinhua news agency reported, but no other details were immediately available.

The 66-year-old resigned as national coach after hosts Brazil suffered a humiliating 7-1 humbling by Germany in the World Cup semi-finals last year.

He then coached Gremio, who finished seventh in the Brazilian league last season, but stepped down in May after pleas to strengthen the squad fell largely on deaf ears.

“We believe Scolari fits our club’s strategy and ambition,” Xinhua quoted a top Guangzhou official as saying.

“We also believe Scolari will make improvement not only on our club, but also on Chinese soccer.”

Cannavaro is departing just six months into the job after he replaced the highly successful Marcello Lippi, who stepped aside after guiding Guangzhou to their fourth-consecutive title.

Cannavaro had a glittering career at Parma, Juventus and Real Madrid and won the world player of the year award in the same year that he captained Italy to World Cup glory in Germany in 2006.

Scolari in his first spell as Brazil coach guided them to the 2002 World Cup.

He also took Portugal to the Euro 2004 final and 2006 World Cup semi-finals, and also had a spell in charge of English Premier League giants Chelsea.

His globetrotting career has also seen him work in the Middle East, in Uzbekistan and in Japan.