Carlos Queiroz, ignominiously sacked by Portugal this week, could be on his way back to Old Trafford for a third stint working under Sir Alex Ferguson. That’s the obvious conclusion to draw from events of the past week in which the former Manchester United assistant was first suspended and then dismissed as the national team’s coach.
The question is – would Ferguson welcome the 57-year-old back into the Old Trafford fold; and, does Queiroz even want to return for a third time, tail flung firmly between legs?
Whatever the answers to those two questions there is little doubt that Mozambique-born Queiroz would add to the coaching team at Old Trafford. United may have promoted Mike Phelan from within when Queiroz left the club for a second time in July 2008, but few believe the former midfielder’s influence on Ferguson is anything like as significant as his predecessor’s.
Phelan, the ultimate nodding dog, so often appears out-of-place as Ferguson’s right-hand-man. Indeed, for all Phelan’s hard work on the training ground – he takes most first team sessions – Queiroz’ tactical input has never been adequately replaced in United’s coaching set up. Instead, Ferguson chose to beef up the team, with Renee Mulenstein promoted alongside Phelan.
Not that Queiroz is beyond reproach of course, with these pages previously highly critical of the former South Africa and Sporting manager’s predilection for defensive tactics.
Many credit – or blame – Queiroz with United’s transformation from the swashbuckling 4-4-2 that took the 1999 Champions League in such dramatic fashion, to a far more turgid side that failed to gain the Premier League between 2002 and 2005.
In Queiroz’ defence, perhaps that transition had as much to do with United’s destruction at Real Madrid’s hands in Spring 2000, with the Reds’ tactics exposed and midfield at times overrun.
The need to protect an ailing Roy Keane also added much to United’s outlook in this period, with arguably the Reds’ personnel not suited to a flexible 4-3-3 system until Ruud van Nistelrooy had left for the Bernabeu and the Wayne Rooney-Cristiano Ronaldo axis had been established.
Queiroz has also earned significant credit for some of United’s best results in recent memory. The Champions League semi-final against Barcelona in 2008 comes to mind, with United snuffing out the Catalan’s plethora of attacking talent and taking a 1-0 aggregate win before lifting the trophy in Moscow.
“More Italian than the Italians” was Luca Spalletti’s now infamous description of United’s counter-attacking style at the time.
The coach’s record for helping to develop young players is also beyond reproach having been in charge of the Portuguese ‘Golden Generation’ at both Under-21 and national level in the early 1990s.
There are, of course, plenty of question marks hanging over Queiroz’ career with spells first in charge of Real Madrid and then as Portuguese national coach ending in dismissal amid perceived poor results.
The coach could hardly have been more disenfranchised than during his time in the Spanish capital, with Claude Makélélé sold behind his back and el Presidente Florentino Pérez refusing Queiroz’ request to buy central defender Pepe. The decisions left the star-studded Galactcos mark I shorn of defensive cover and eventually finishing fourth in La Liga behind champions Valencia.
Meanwhile, back as Portugal coach Queiroz guided the Selecção to this summer’s World Cup in South Africa with a creditable 63 per cent win ratio overall. But although the Golden Generation is long since gone the sense that Queiroz failed to draw the best out of a squad that includes attacking talents such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Raul Meireles, Danny and Simão Sabrosa is palpable.
Any move for Queiroz would also court controversy in the wake of the coach’s recent ban for acting aggressively towards anti-doping testers who had visited the Portuguese World Cup camp. Queiroz denied the charge but a hearing found that the coach’s behaviour was intimidating and suspended him for six months.
Although Ferguson traveled to Portugal to defend his one-time ally, there was little surprise when the Portuguese Football Federation sacked Queiroz on 9 September.
Moreover, any re-appointment of Queiroz to the United coaching staff will inevitably invite questions of Ferguson’s succession, with the United manager perhaps only two seasons from retirement. Few if any United supporters will countenance Queiroz in the hot seat at Old Trafford despite respect for his coaching, tactical knowledge and youth development.
The alternative for Queiroz is to face rebuilding a career that has suffered in recent times, with a managerial appointment at either a mid-ranked club or national team.
There is little doubt though that whatever the road he chooses, Queiroz will always have friends at Old Trafford.
If he were to come back and get us to improve the defensive side of our game, that would be fantastic, surely.
We can’t defend for toffee at the moment and I wouldn’t put that down purely to Rio not being in the team.
plus he would get anderson off his fat arse
Sure could’ve used his defensive astuteness yesterday!
I think Queiroz now needs to realise he is not management material and know his limits, which is, he is a good assistant manager and no more than that.
Nobody liked him when he was here FFS he got the blame for the shite years
But still, it would increase our chance of getting Ronnie back, a player with some bottle
i think that queiroz is an excellent assistant manager but only that.he can never be a good manager.he has great tactical understanding and is good at developing youth players but he lacks the decision making ability and is not capable of handling responsibility very well.we never looked as sound tactically as when he was with us the last time i.e.during rooney ronaldo tevez time.at utd he doesn’t have to face that much pressure as fergie takes the centre stage.our team lacks that tactical understanding compared to chelsea.he’s exactly what we need right now.
Queiroz is technically and tactically astute but lacks the ability to inspire players; he’s the perfect right – hand man for any team but he will never be the top man; as long as he can accept this then I would have no problem seeing him back at United; with respect to Phelan and Mulenstein they do not have Queiroz’ edge when it comes to competing against the top sides.
Some coaches seem to do quite well making a living as the second man and I think the Portuguese falls into this category.
To be honest the coaching set up isn’t the problem. At the moment United are getting the best out of their resources.
Phelan and Meulensteen know their limits and won’t be doing a Carlos or Steve and trying to be managers elsewhere.
Today’s football is too much about the glory, money and “career” so they left, neither should be allowed back.
Coaches – know your limits!
CQ did command great respect from both staff and players . I feel if he re joins us he will make the transition from SAF to the new manager far easier for the Club . There is no doubt he will know he is not to succeed SAF .
Let him come back here, he’s a great tactician Carlos, i think his temperament will reawaken the Old Trafford dressing room pretty well. May be even Bebe, a player he convinced SAF to sign, will become a star with his guidance. Come back home QC
Bring him back, at the very minimum he’ll make the transition from Vidic-Rio to Vidic-Evans a smoother process. Evans still looks very raw
this.
Along with more playing time for Fabio and Rafael.
And better defensive play.
What about Phelan – being replaced by a man nobody liked 5/6 years ago
that’s fine. My dislike for Phelan stretched back 18 years so he is leading in the race for hatred in my book.
well clearly the shite football we wwere playing weren’t his fault when it got fucking miles worse the seas on after he left even though e had ron wayne tevez berbatov and nani all at once, its only marginally better now, and we’ve somehow managed to become even more spineless and defensive in europe since he eleft so that can’t have been his fault either, anyway, apart from that period we had smith in midfield and our football was great when quieroz was here going back to the superb 2003 season when he as came
if only phelan had gone for the burnley job this summer
yes, yes, yes
let’s have a youth policy but then don’t use it. hmmmmmmmmmmm.
a wet fart has more charisma than phelan
That’s right Gaz, i think Rio’s fast becoming a spent force at Old Trafford, Evans needs to step up his game and i think Carlos’ the right man to help him do that.
Just1n, Ando would certainly get off his fat arse with carlos on board lol, i like him but we need to start getting the best outa him. Plus Garry Neville has to do justice to his legendary status by quitting playing ASAP, i think he has nothing remaining in those fully spent legs of his, i appreciate his services offered to the Red Devils, but he’s fast be a liability especially when on the pitch for United. I am fully behind you in urging SAF to make Rafael the permanent holder of no. 2. I am for Carlos coming back as Fegrie’s assistant.
who’s this gallas of chelsea
galway of chelsea?
he’d definitely add to the tactical side of things, but like Ed pointed out, i hope him returning doesnt mean he isnt next in line to take over. his gigs at madrid and portugal have proved that he’s not managerial material
He could be sth for us esp. in defence.hes always welcome
I also hope he doesnt take over eventually as the overall Boss at OT. He’s good technically but i don’t think he’s good overall as a manager. I would prefer someone else definitely to take over from SAF
“CARLOS BACK TO OLD TRAFFORD?
The News of the World reckons that Sir Alex Ferguson ‘is ready to bring Carlos Queiroz back to Manchester United as his assistant for a THIRD time.’
Queiroz is out of work after his dismissal as Portugal’s national coach, but the NoTW describes how ‘is still highly regarded by Fergie after the pair won three Premier League titles and the Champions League together. His return would see a restructuring of United’s coaching set-up, with Mike Phelan reverting to a coaching role alongside Dutchman Rene Meulensteen.'”
FFs one season back at Old Trafford then he will fuck off elsewhere again as usual.