Now that he has been officially unveiled as the Head Coach of the Black Stars, I go into his over 40 years career – which he trumpeted as experience to his new role – to dig out some of the controversies Carlos Queiroz was embroiled in, leading to him to falling out of love and getting sacked in some instances. It is important that these not-too-good traits are not repeated as Ghana seek to better their performance at the World Cup once again.
Below are 10 moments that Queiroz cannot afford to repeat:
- Controversy with South Korea coach in 2014 World Cup qualifiers
During the run-up to qualifying with Iran for the first of three World Cups under his watch, Carlos Queiroz is said to have been angered by a comment by then South Korea coach Choi Kang-hee, who appeared not to be satisfied with conditions they were subjected to in his side’s first leg in Iran. The second leg, in Seoul, was also the final leg in the Asian qualifiers and after beating the hosts in what became a defiance of Choi’s threat to beat Iran to allow Uzbekistan qualify for Brazil, Queiroz, who spotted a shirt with Choi’s face displayed in front, raised his fist at his opposite number. This was deemed offensive to South Korean players and staff and nearly resulted in a fight between the two teams. This led to the suspension of some players.
2. Red Card in AFCON 2021 semi-finals
The veteran Portuguese manager was absent in the dugout for Egypt’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Senegal in Yaounde. The team was handled by Assistant Coach Diaa El-Sayed due to a red card Carlos Queiroz received in the tension-filled semi-final against hosts Cameroon. He had several in-match moments with Gambian referee Bakary Gassama, resulting in the dishing out of the red card in the 89th minute. Hard as Egypt tried to get their eighth title, they lost on penalties to Senegal, who took their first title.
3. Fallout with the South African Football Association
There was controversy surrounding team selection after the qualification of the Bafana Bafana to the 2002 FIFA World Cup by Queiroz. After steering the team to a historic second tournament, the Portuguese was reported to have clashed with the technical director, Jomo Sono, regarding team selection. That supposed interference from SAFA left him with no option than to leave his post. He later denied news of his resignation as South Africa coach as announced by SAFA, claiming it was news to him and all he wanted was to be solely in charge of team selection.
4. Sacked by Real Madrid for non-performance
The Portuguese started well with the Galacticos, having brought to bear his experience under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He led Real Madrid to win the Supercopa de Espana in 2004 but things took a nosedive a few months to the end of the season. This was the period of irony for Madrid in that with all their ‘Galacticos’, they failed to shine. They lost the La Liga to Valencia, Copa del Rey to Real Zaragoza and got knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the quarter-finals by AS Monaco. After just 10 months, Queiroz was sacked.
5. Argument with Roy Keane at Man Utd
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane sees Carlos Queiroz as hypocritical despite having good managerial qualities. The Irish has stated several times in interviews that he should have ripped off the head of the Portuguese manager and he regrets not doing so before leaving the club. This frosty relationship started in the second spell of the Portuguese as Assistant Manchester United Manager. Keane blames Queiroz for his departure from the club.
6. Charged for attack against Referee Marin Atkinson
In 2008, The FA charged not only Queiroz but his boss, Alex Ferguson, for descending on referee Martin Atkinson after Manchester United’s shock 1-0 loss to Portsmouth. The Assistant Manager had called the referee “a robber” for a supposed penalty he waved off against Cristiano Ronaldo.
7. Friend-turned-foe relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo
Queiroz is said to be the brain behind the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo by Manchester United after he personally arranged a friendly between the Red Devils and Sporting CP, his former club, in preseason in 2002/3. The Ronaldo deal was said to have been brokered in the Lisbon residence of Queiroz, who was invariably referred to as Ronaldo’s “dad” by most Manchester United players, then. But the relationship grew frosty while Queiroz was in charge of Selecao das Quinas between 2008 and 2010 as Ronaldo could only score once in 16 months. Ronaldo’s only goal came in the 7-0 drubbing of North Korea in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a couple of months after which the veteran coach was sacked. When asked about Portugal’s campaign after the Round of 16 exit to eventual champions Spain, Ronaldo responded: “Ask Queiroz”.
8. Suspended for clash with anti-doping process
The woes of Portugal’s campaign at South Africa 2010 began even before the tournament. Queiroz is said to have disrupted doping of Portuguese players by the Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority. He is said to have used inappropriate language against officials of the Authority, resulting in a six-month ban slapped on him. This was later reversed after an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Portuguese Football Federation later handed him a one-month ban over the same incident, from which he did not return to his post. He was sacked.
9. Resigned from Iran role over disagreement with IFF
After leading Team Melli to a relatively successful 2014 FIFA World Cup, drawing goalless with Nigeria for their first clean sheet at the tournament, he continued for the next campaign. However, just before the qualifiers, Queiroz resigned over disagreements with the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). This could have disrupted the qualification for the Asian country. Queiroz later returned to take Team Melli to Russia 2018. At that second World Cup in charge of Iran, Queiroz secured a 1-0 opening-match victory over Morocco and a draw against Portugal but was undone by an earlier 0-1 defeat to Spain.
10. Sacked by Qatar
Queiroz was contracted by the 2022 World Cup hosts for the next World Cup in Canada, Mexico and United States. However, after 12 matches in charge, he was sacked for Spaniard Tintin Marquez.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh
The writer is a football historian and a researcher.
Email: africanscholaro@yahoo.com