Scolari in two-horse race with McClaren for England job

Steve McClaren's last serious rival for the England manager's job is Luiz Felipe Scolari, and the Football Association will make their decision of who becomes Sven Goran Eriksson's successor this week, with an announcement likely to be made on Wednesday.

The Brazilian coach, currently in charge of Portugal, appeared to be out of the running one month ago but his cause is being pushed hard by Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein and, as the five-man FA committee struggle to make a decision, Scolari is back in contention. Any decision must be ratified by the main FA board on Wednesday, and they want to make their decision in person.

Scolari is very keen on the job, not least because it is likely to pay £2.5m a year, comfortably more than he earns in Portugal. The coach who won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil has expressed his interest in taking the England job when his contract with Portugal runs out in July.