Carlos Queiroz set for record-breaking World Cup stint with Ghana
Carlos Queiroz is on the brink of writing another chapter in his long international coaching career as he prepares to lead Ghana at the World Cup, extending a remarkable run that will place him among the most experienced managers in the tournament’s history.
The 73-year-old will take charge of the Black Stars as they open their Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday, continuing a journey that began with Portugal in 2010. He later guided Iran to three consecutive World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022, placing him alongside Bora Milutinović’s record of five successive tournaments with different national teams between 1986 and 2002.
While Brazil’s Carlos Alberto Parreira holds the overall record with six World Cup appearances as a coach, Queiroz’s achievement lies in its consistency across eras and continents.
His unexpected appointment by Ghana in April came after Otto Addo was dismissed in March following a run of poor friendly results, bringing Queiroz back into the global spotlight after it appeared his coaching journey might be winding down. His most recent role had been with Oman, adding another country to a managerial career that has now spanned eight national teams.
The Portuguese coach’s CV also includes spells at Real Madrid and a long stint as Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, experiences that helped shape a career defined by tactical discipline and structure. Yet his touchline demeanour has often divided opinion—intense and animated during matches, but viewed by some colleagues as underwhelming away from the pitch. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane once memorably criticised him, saying he had “the personality of a dead fly.”
In Portugal, however, Queiroz is widely credited as a pioneer who helped modernise the country’s football development system. He guided the national under-20 team to back-to-back World Cup titles in 1989 and 1991, nurturing a generation that included Luís Figo, Paulo Sousa and João Pinto, and laying foundations that shaped Portugal’s rise as a producer of elite talent.
A’Bola, the Portuguese sports daily, recently described him as a figure who “brought the knowledge of universities to the pitch,” crediting him with building a lasting football culture in the country.
Now, Queiroz turns his attention to Ghana, where he believes experience will be his greatest asset. “I am prepared for this,” he said upon accepting the role. “I bring 40 years of experience to every decision that will be made.”