Portugal sack coach Carlos Queiroz

Posted on September 10, 2010 by SoccerPunter

Carlos Queiroz was sacked as Portugal coach on Thursday after a disciplinary feud sparked by a six-month ban for insulting officials from the country’s anti-doping body.

The former Manchester United boss, who took over in July 2008, also paid a heavy price for a loss of form that saw his team struggle to reach the World Cup and pick up just a point from their opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers.

“The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has decided unanimously to end the contract of national coach Carlos Queiroz,” FPF president Gilberto Madail told a news conference.

Queiroz was serving a six-month ban, which he had described as “erroneous and abusive”, for hindering dope testers who had turned up to test his players at a pre-World Cup training camp in May.

A federation statement read: “Given the recent events, and after reviewing the current situation concerning the national coach, the directorate of the FPF decided unanimously [to end] the contract with the national coach, Carlos Queiroz, with immediate effect. This decision was communicated to Carlos Queiroz.

“[The FPF will] start immediately contacts and talks with a view to hiring a technician who performs the functions of national coach in time to prepare and lead the team in the forthcoming qualifying matches for Euro 2012.”

Portugal were knocked out by Spain in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Their campaign to reach the Euro 2012 finals has suffered a nightmare start with a 4-4 home draw against lowly Cyprus followed by a 1-0 defeat against Norway on Tuesday.