WORLD CUP WINNING manager Luiz Felipe Scolari caused a stir last week after he was spotted travelling around Ireland by bus.
Puzzled football fans could not believe their eyes as the former Brazil boss was pictured in Derry and Belfast, but the smiling figure in the Guangzhou Evergrande jacket was indeed the unmistakable ‘Big Phil’.
Advertisement
It turns out that the 68-year-old was visiting his son, who is based in the north of the country, and, while he was here, he took the opportunity to go sightseeing.
The former Chelsea manager visited the walled city of Derry, travelling by bus instead of private transport, and also Belfast, where he happily stopped for photographs with shoppers at St George’s Market. He even popped into the famous Empire Music Hall to sample the city’s nightlife!
“I came before Christmas because I have a son who works in Lisburn near Belfast,” Scolari told the BBC. “I’m staying here for 10 to 15 days on my holidays and after that I’ll go back to China with my team (Guangzhou Evergrande).
“I like Belfast, Londonderry and Dublin very much. The people are very nice, they are lovely, I like them.”
After experiencing Ireland’s famed hospitality in abundance, ‘Big Phil’ is sure to be back visiting soon.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
So why was 'Big Phil' Scolari in Ireland over Christmas?
WORLD CUP WINNING manager Luiz Felipe Scolari caused a stir last week after he was spotted travelling around Ireland by bus.
Puzzled football fans could not believe their eyes as the former Brazil boss was pictured in Derry and Belfast, but the smiling figure in the Guangzhou Evergrande jacket was indeed the unmistakable ‘Big Phil’.
It turns out that the 68-year-old was visiting his son, who is based in the north of the country, and, while he was here, he took the opportunity to go sightseeing.
The former Chelsea manager visited the walled city of Derry, travelling by bus instead of private transport, and also Belfast, where he happily stopped for photographs with shoppers at St George’s Market. He even popped into the famous Empire Music Hall to sample the city’s nightlife!
“I came before Christmas because I have a son who works in Lisburn near Belfast,” Scolari told the BBC. “I’m staying here for 10 to 15 days on my holidays and after that I’ll go back to China with my team (Guangzhou Evergrande).
“I like Belfast, Londonderry and Dublin very much. The people are very nice, they are lovely, I like them.”
After experiencing Ireland’s famed hospitality in abundance, ‘Big Phil’ is sure to be back visiting soon.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Hourihane hoping for 2017 Ireland debut despite previous disappointment
League of Ireland veteran Killian Brennan will play for his hometown club in 2017
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Brazil famous visitor Luis Felipe Scolari Soccer