Chelsea are looking forward to a new era under Luis Felipe Scolari after the World Cup-winning Portugal boss was confirmed as the club's new manager.
Although Scolari, who won the sport's biggest prize with his native Brazil in 2002, was hotly tipped to succeed Avram Grant at Stamford Bridge it was believed that no formal announcement would be made until after Portugal's Euro 2008 campaign was at an end.
Chelsea said in a statement: "Chelsea Football Club is delighted to confirm that Luiz Felipe Scolari will be the club's new manager from July 1st, 2008.
"Felipe has great qualities. He is one of the world's top coaches with a record of success at country and club level, he gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours.
"He was the outstanding choice."
Scolari is likely to be unveiled during the first week of July, at which time the details of his contract will also be revealed.
Scolari's appointment comes less than a week after he insisted he would not discuss his future until after Euro 2008.
He said at the time: "What's going to happen to me after Euro 2008 — if I am going to stay or leave — concerns (only) me and I am not going to talk about it now.
"If I decide to leave or stay, I am only going to make a public declaration at the end of Euro 2008."
Scolari's biggest achievement was leading Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002 and he famously turned down the chance to manage England following Sven-Goran Eriksson's departure in 2006.
The 59-year-old has no experience of managing at club level in Europe.
Before becoming an international manager, he enjoyed success at club level in Brazil, winning South America's equivalent of the Champions League — the Copa Libertadores — with two different clubs.
Portugal, meanwhile, have cancelled all media activity for today. Portugal were due to hold a press conference at 3pm Irish time at their training base in Neuchatel, at which it was expected Scolari would face the press.
However, that has now been called off as the Portuguese try to train their focus on Euro 2008.
