The president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Gilberto Madail, has criticised Chelsea for naming Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new manager while the Brazilian was still in charge of the Portugal national team and competing at Euro 2008.

“It wasn’t the best moment for us for Chelsea to announce Scolari’s appointment,” said Madail. “I wish Chelsea would have consulted us before so that we could have chosen a better time.”

Madail did admit though that he did not blame Scolari with regards to his decision, knowing that he would have left after Euro 2008.

“I know Scolari had nothing to do with it and I was surprised, not by the appointment - because Scolari is a great coach - but at the timing chosen,” Madail said. “I knew when we entered the tournament that Scolari would leave. We respected his wishes. He wanted a new experience with a club. There was nothing we could do. It was a financial issue and we couldn’t match Chelsea’s offer.”

“Whether some like it or not, he [Scolari] left a mark in Portuguese football,” Madail said. “He is a spectacular coach who made a huge impact and that will remain in the history of Portugal. But life continues. [The new coach] will have to speak Portuguese but not necessarily be Portuguese. He has to have ambition and be a winner. He has to be someone who the players respect.”

The Portuguese Football Federation will name a new coach at the beginning of next month.