Former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he would build on the success of Marcello Lippi at Guangzhou Evergrande on his first day managing the Chinese champions Friday, state media reported.

Scolari, who signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Guangzhou, was unveiled to the media at a press conference in the Guangdong city soon after arriving in China.

The 66-year-old is replacing Fabio Cannavaro just six months after he took up the reins following a highly successful period under Marcello Lippi, who also led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006.

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

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

"We have no pressure," Scolari told reporters in Guangzhou, according to a report by state news agency Xinhua.

"We expressed our thanks to what Lippi has made to China's soccer. We will bring more. We will enhance our advantages and improve our shortcomings."

Lippi led Guangzhou Evergrande to their fourth successive Chinese title last year, and also won the AFC Champions League in 2013.

Cannavaro -- who was Lippi's captain at the Azzurri's World Cup triumph in Germany -- had a glittering career at Parma, Juventus and Real Madrid.

His reign at Guangzhou has been dogged by injuries to his squad.

However, the reasons behind his departure remain unclear with the champions on course for a fifth Chinese Super League title, currently topping the league with Shandong Luneng and Beijing Guoan.

Guangzhou are also through to the quarter-finals of this year's AFC Champions League.

Scolari's first match will be a CSL tie against Shandong on June 20, following the international break.

"I will spend some time on communicating with my players," he said.