Finally: Carlos Queiroz signs with Iran [VIDEO+PHOTOS]
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Loading...PFDC – TEHRAN, It has been a lenghty soap opera, but Monday morning Portugese top coach Carlos Queiroz arrived in Tehran and signed a deal to coach Iran’s national team for 3.5 years.
Persianfootball.com already confirmed the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) and the former Real Madrid boss being close to reaching an agreement on February 1, however, long and tough negotiations followed, which finally broke down exactly two weeks later with Queiroz citing “personal reasons” for backing out of the deal in last second.
However, the IFF and especially international committee director Abbas Torabian showed persistency, which payed off today, as the deal – reportedly worth six million dollars – was finally completed today at 11am.
Queiroz will bring two assistant coaches with him.
Queiroz, who is known as longtime assistant of Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, was dismissed as Portugal headcoach after a disappointing start into the Euro 2012 qualification in 2010.
Earlier that year, Queiroz had led Portugal to the knockout stage unbeaten from a group with Brazil, Ivory Coast and DPR Korea before eliminated by later World Champions Spain after a 1-0 defeat.
It had already been Queiroz’s second spell as Portugal boss after 1991-1993.
The far-travelled physical education degree holder also coached many club teams such as Sporting Lisbon, the NY Metro Stars or Nagoya Grampus Eight as well as the national teams of the UAE and South Africa.
Iran are without a coach since being eliminated in quarterfinals of Asian Cup on January 22 and Afshin Ghotbi’s departure to Shimizu S-Pulse.
