Australia is on the hunt for a new boss to take the national team to Russia after Ange Postecoglou’s departure.

And the former Brazil, Portugal and Chelsea manager has emerged as a candidate. Scolari is currently without a job after leaving Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande at the end of the season.

“I am one of the names they spoke with... to see if I was interested in taking them to the World Cup,“ the 69-year-old told.

Scolari said he is interested in taking charge of the Socceroos but wants a long-term role.

“I don’t intend on just taking a team to the World Cup,” he said.

“I intend on leading a team with an organized project for one or two years. But I am interested.”

Scolari won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and led Portugal to the Euro 2004 final. He was named South American Coach of the Yea in 1999 and 2002, and has won trophies with clubs in Brazil, Kuwait, China and Uzbekistan.

In three years with Guangzhou Evergrande the former defender, nicknamed 'Big Phil', won three straight league titles, the Asia Champions League in 2015, a Chinese FA Cup and two Chinese FA Super Cups.

Scolari was also in charge for the Selecao’s disastrous 2014 World Cup campaign, which ended with an embarrassing 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany.

Graham Arnold, Jurgen Klinnsman, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Slavoljub Muslin and Marcelo Bielsa have all been linked with the Socceroos’ position.