Portugal legend Paulo Sousa takes charge at QPR

Portugal legend Paulo Sousa was appointed first-team coach at English Championship club QPR on Wednesday.

Sousa signed a two-and-a-half-year contract and will be in charge for Saturday’s clash against Watford at Vicarage Road.

The 38-year-old has never been a manager and his only experience of coaching came during five years as assistant to former Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.

However Sousa, who succeeds the sacked Iain Dowie at Loftus Road, enjoyed a glittering playing career that included spells at Benfica, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.

He won the Champions League with Juventus and Dortmund as well as earning 51 caps for his country, including appearances at Euro 96 and Euro 2000.

Sousa will be expected to deliver a return to the Premier League immediately as Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, the west London club’s multi-millionaire owners, try to transform the team into significant players in English football.

QPR are currently 10th in the Championship – three points off the play-offs places – and Sousa believes he has the ability to meet his employers’ ambitious objectives.

“It is an honour to be part of this project. I have always wanted to work for a big club and I am very excited about the opportunity to work for Queens Park Rangers,” he said.

“I have great belief in my ideas and my coaching ability and I firmly believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management.”

Sousa will also have to work closely with Briatore, who reportedly sacked Dowie after the manager refused to pick the team suggested by QPR’s co-owner.

Gareth Ainsworth, who had been in caretaker charge at Rangers, will stay on as part of Sousa’s backroom team.