Former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was Thursday unveiled as the new manager of Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrade, replacing Fabio Cannavaro just six months after the Italian took up the reins.

Scolari signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Guangzhou, the Xinhua news agency reported, but no other details were immediately available.

The 66-year-old resigned as national coach after hosts Brazil suffered a humiliating 7-1 humbling by Germany in the World Cup semi-finals.

He then coached Gremio, who finished seventh last season, but stepped down in May after pleas to strengthen the squad fell largely on deaf ears.

Cannavaro is departing just six months into the job, after he replaced the highly successful Marcello Lippi, who stepped aside after guiding Guangzhou to their fourth consecutive title.

Cannavaro had a glittering career at Parma, Juventus and Real Madrid and won the world player of the year award in the same year that he led Italy to World Cup victory in Germany in 2006.

Scolari in his first spell as Brazil coach guided them to the 2002 World Cup title.