Colombia are set to confirm the appointment of former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz on a contract that runs until the 2022 World Cup. The former Manchester United assistant will be presented on Thursday at the federation’s headquarters in Bogota.
“I’m delighted to be in Colombia,” Queiroz said when he arrived in Colombia on Wednesday. I’m very thankful for the invitation of the Colombian Football Federation.” The 65-year-old had been the federation’s first choice since Jose Pekerman resigned from the post in September.
Most recently Queiroz had been in charge of Iran between 2011 and 2019, leading the country to consecutive World Cups in 2014 and 2018. He stepped down after the Asian Cup semifinal defeat to Japan last week. Carlos Queiroz stood down after nearly eight years as Iran coach on Monday following his team’s 3-0 loss to Japan in the semifinals of the Asian Cup.
The former Real Madrid coach had been hoping to deliver Iran’s first continental title since 1976 in the United Arab Emirates but Japan scored three second-half goals to send them crashing out of the tournament. “I think the simplest thing to do is to copy the old song: ‘and now, the end is here,” the 65-year-old Portuguese said, misquoting the song Frank Sinatra made famous.
“I’m happy and proud to say I did it my way.”Queiroz has had more than one comeback after resigning during his time as Iran coach, but there was a finality to his comments that suggested that this time he would be going for good. “A huge, huge thank you to my players for everything,” the former Manchester United assistant coach added. “Taking into account the difficulties, the limitations they work under, they are going to be in my heart for the rest of my life.”
Queiroz took Iran to the World Cup finals twice in his time as coach, earning one win in six matches over two tournaments. He has had an almost perpetual running battle with his masters at the Iranian FA, though, trying to get more resources, facilities and more competitive friendly fixtures for his team.
Ending Iran’s 43-year wait for a third continental title had become something of an obsession for the former South Africa and Portugal coach and to see it end without success was clearly a disappointment. “I hope you understand that the end is here,” he repeated towards the end of his press conference. His fighting spirit was revived when an Iranian journalist asked what responsibility he accepted for the defeat.
“My role in the game was, as for the last eight years, take full responsibility for what happens outside of the pitch,” he said. “But I would like to ask him, ‘what was your role in the last eight years?’ Your role was silence and complicity, nothing more, while I was fighting for your national team.”