Scolari linked to vacant Peru coaching job

Former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is being pursued by Peru's football federation (FPF) to take charge of the country's national team.

FPF president Edwin Oviedo has made Scolari his prime target after sacking Uruguayan Pablo Bengoechea in December, state-run broadcaster TV Peru said on Sunday.

Scolari is currently manager of Brazil's Gremio, who he joined after being axed as coach of Brazil following the hosts' 7-1 World Cup semifinal defeat to Germany in July. The 66-year-old's contract with Gremio expires in 2016.

It would not be the first time Scolari has coached a foreign national team.

Six months after guiding Brazil to victory at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea he began a five-and-a-half year spell in charge of Portugal.

He led the European team to the final of Euro 2004 as hosts and the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Oviedo, who replaced Manuel Burga as Peru's top football official last month, has vowed to appoint a coach with "World Cup experience".

Peru have not qualified for the World Cup since 1982, when they were eliminated in the first phase in Spain.

The team finished seventh in the South American qualifying zone standings for the 2014 World Cup. Endi