Scolari steps down at Gremio

Former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari stepped down Tuesday at Porto Alegre-based side Gremio following a weekend loss to Curitiba to end a third spell in charge of the southerners.

The 66-year-old took over a month after he resigned as national coach following the World Cup -- hosts Brazil suffered a humiliating 7-1 humbling by Germany in the semi-finals -- but has been unable to take the club to new heights after pleas to strengthen the squad fell largely on deaf ears.

"He asked to resign this morning and I understood his cycle and capacity to take the club on had come to an end," said club chairman Romildo Bolzan after the club managed just one point from its opening two matches of the new league campaign.

Gremio finished seventh last season but missed out on a place in the Libertadores Cup and lost their state league final to arch rivals Internacional two weeks ago.

Scolari -- who in his first spell as Brazil coach guided them to the 2002 World Cup title -- had previously led Gremio to Libertadores glory in 1995.