Bento named as Portugal coach

Paulo Bento was on Tuesday named coach of Portugal until the end of Euro 2012, the Portuguese Football Federation announced.

“Paulo Bento and his technical team will sign a contract until July 2012,” the federation said.

Bento, 41, a former defensive midfielder who won 35 caps for Portugal, will succeed Carlos Queiroz, who was sacked earlier this month after some disciplinary run-ins with the federation and a string of poor results.

Bento’s appointment came after Real Madrid refused to release Jose Mourinho to take up the role temporarily.

Portugal have made a poor start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, drawing 4-4 with Cyprus and losing 1-0 to Norway to leave them in fourth place in Group H.

They face Denmark and Iceland in October.