Time for Queiroz to move on from Portugal?

Carlos Queiroz had a great record as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, but other than that, his career has had very few high points.

Disappointing

Now, after his Portugal side’s disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign followed by an even more disappointing World Cup, he has found himself suspended for six months.

The suspension is in relation to anti-doping test prior to the World Cup that he was said to have ‘disrupted’.

Insulted

Portugal’s Sports Institute said an inquiry found that Queiroz insulted an anti-doping team and that his aggressive manner upset their work. The Portuguese Football Federation had already suspended Queiroz for one month for misconduct at the incident in May, although it said that though he did use foul language, he had not caused disruption.

The institute’s report said that after hearing evidence from all those involved a conclusion was reached that Queiroz’s intimidating behaviour had unsettled the anti-doping team and that, as a result, one of the inspectors failed to correctly carry out a test at the training camp. None of the players tested positive and there is no suggestion that they would have done without Mr Queiroz‘s intervention.

Denied

Although Queiroz has previously denied the charge, he has admitted that he was angry that the unannounced early morning tests had disturbed the players and admitted that his language may have been inappropriate.

With the Portugal boss now missing four Euro 2012 qualifying games his assistant Agostinho Oliveira has been put in charge and Queiroz’s tenure in charge must be in serious doubt.

Excuse

The fact is that the current situation could surely be used as an excuse to get rid of a man who has shown little clue as a manager.

In the late 1980s Queiroz enjoyed great success as a youth coach, taking his young players to top three finishes in six European and World Championships.

Senior

Once he moved up to managing senior players in 1991 the success started to dwindle. In fact, he has held eight different managerial jobs over those nineteen years and his only honours have been the Portuguese Cup with Sporting in 1995 and the Spanish Cup with Real Madrid in 2004. Not much to show for his efforts really.

There is no doubt that Carlos Queiroz is a talented coach and a man that knows a great deal about the game. Having said that, I would think that the facts suggest that he is much better in the role of coach, or number two, than he is in the role of manager.

Tracksuit

He has endured disappointing spells as manager of Real Madrid and as manager of Portugal. Perhaps it is time for him to hang up his managerial hat and go back to putting on a tracksuit and getting out on the training pitch with some players. That’s where he is happiest and most effective.

He should leave the swearing and disruption to Sir Alex. He is better at it and nine times out of ten gets away with it!