Carlos Queiroz, a former manager of Portugal and Real Madrid, has been named head coach of Qatar, succeeding Felix Sanchez.
His contract is valid through the Mexico, the United States, and Canada 2026 World Cup.
Queiroz, 69, has previously managed South Africa, Colombia, and Egypt, as well as Iran at the 2022 World Cup.
After losing 6-2 to England in their initial group match, Queiroz’s team defeated Wales, but their chances of moving on to the knockout round were dashed when they fell to the United States.
The first time Qatar participated in the World Cup finals, was in 2022 when they served as the hosts. Qatar lost all three of its group games to Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands.
The Qatar Football Association’s Twitter account sent a brief statement that said: “Carlos Queiroz is the new head coach of #AlAnnabi.”
“We wish the Portuguese coach all the best with our national team.”
Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Manuel Brito Leal de Queiroz ComIH, a Portuguese football coach who was born on March 1, 1953, is now in charge of the Qatari national team.
He has managed the national teams of his home Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Iran, Colombia, and Egypt. He has guided Iran (2014, 2018, and 2022), South Africa (2002), and Portugal (2010) to the FIFA World Cup.
He has also held managerial positions with the Spanish team Real Madrid, Major League Soccer’s New York/New Jersey Metrostars, and Sporting CP.
At Manchester United in England, he served as Alex Ferguson’s assistant manager twice.
Queiroz has had success at the senior and club levels, mostly as Alex Ferguson’s assistant manager. He has earned a number of honors for his work as a coach at the junior levels.
He wrote the Q-Report, which outlined strategies for improving American football player development, in 1998.
With nearly eight years under his belt between 2011 and 2019, Queiroz is the Iran national team’s longest-tenured manager.
He took on the position once more for Iran’s World Cup campaign in 2022. He is the only coach in history to have guided a nation to three straight World Cups.
Career Controversy
Queiroz was incensed by Choi Kang-hee, South Korea’s head coach, complaining that Iran did not provide the training facilities with sufficient qualities during South Korea’s away qualification match against Iran on October 17, 2012, prior to the final 2014 World Cup qualification match against South Korea.
According to Choi, Iran would have to watch the World Cup on television since South Korea would overcome Iran to advance Uzbekistan and South Korea to the World Cup finals.
In retaliation, Queiroz harshly insulted Choi in his public remarks and made fun of him by donning a T-shirt with a picture of Choi’s face.
After Iran defeated South Korea in their final qualifying match, Queiroz made a provocative fist motion toward the South Korean national coach that was interpreted as insulting by the South Korean players and staff, nearly igniting a brawl between the two sides.
Sosha Makani was benched for the 2014 World Cup opener as a result of the altercations.
Choi had earlier received a response from Queiroz in which he stated that Iran had treated the South Korean national team fairly when they visited Iran.
