Brazil have appointed Carlos Alberto Parreira as their coach for a third time.

Hiss contract runs through to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Parreira led Brazil to their fourth World Cup title in the USA in 1994.

He succeeds Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is now coaching Euro 2004 hosts Portugal.

Scolari coached Brazil to an unprecedented fifth World Cup victory in 2002.

Former World Cup winning player Mario Zagallo, who coached Brazil to the 1998 World Cup final, will be part of Parreira's coaching team, as he was in 1994.

The 59-year-old Parreira's appointment came as a surprse as Sao Paulo coach Oswaldo de Oliveira was strongly considered favourite for the job.

Parreira is fresh from leading Corinthians to victory in the Copa Brasil and to the finals of the national championships, where they lost to Santos.

He also coached Kuwait at the 1982 world Cup, add Saud Arabia in France 98.

Parreira's frst match in charge of the Word Champions will be a friendly in China on 12 February.

His appointment came as a surprse as Sao Paulo coach Oswaldo de Oliveira was strongly considered favourite for the job.

Parreira was unsuccessful in his recent application for the post of coach to the Nigerian national team.

But Parreira is fresh from leading Corinthians to victory in the Copa Brasil and to the finals of the national championships, where they lost to Santos.

He also coached Kuwait at the 1982 world Cup, add Saud Arabia in France 98.

Parreira's frst match in charge of the Word Champions will be a friendly in China on 12 February.