Sir Alex Ferguson conceded that his time as United manager would be up within the next “two to three years”, meaning our immediate thoughts went to which man would be good enough to fill his shoes. At RoM, Carlos Queiroz was the man backed to do the job, after spending years at the club where he was afforded more time and input than your average assisted manager.
Mark Hughes, who had previously been a favourite for the job, ruled himself out of the running when he took the post at City, then Queiroz seemingly did the same when opting to replace Scolari as the Portugal boss.
Since then, Eric Cantona, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Roy Keane remain as the favourites, amongst United fans, for the job.
However, Queiroz has today refused to rule himself out as a potential candidate, claiming he is amongst ever other coach in the World that dreams of managing United. Question is, would you take him back again?
After winning the league with United in 2003, the offer to manage Real Madrid was too tempting for Queiroz to turn down. Following a failed season with the Spanish giants, thanks largely to the negative input of president Florentino Perez, Queiroz was given a second chance at United. Clearly Fergie saw something in Queiroz and had already earmarked him as the replacement.
“It is an honour for me to share the dreams and expectations of all Manchester United fans,” said Queiroz, upon rejoining the club. “I feel proud and happy with my decision. It is a commitment to Manchester United where football achievements and ambitions fulfil my personal professional goals. I would like to express my respect and gratitude to the board and Sir Alex Ferguson for the trust and confidence they have given me with this amazing and renewed opportunity.”
Two league titles and a European Cup later, Queiroz is unveiled as the new Portuguese boss, filling the spot vacated by new Chelsea boss, Scolari. Whilst bitterly disappointing, nobody could begrudge him the opportunity to manage the country he would regard to be his homeland.
Whilst for many, this was regarded as a move that would ensure he had no further part to play at United, Queiroz has today suggested he would be more than happy to return once the manager’s job was available.
“If you asked that of a million coaches, I think there is not one single coach in the world who does not have that dream. I’m one of those million coaches that shares the dream,” said Queiroz. “It was a very tough decision [to leave]. I had a fantastic time with a great club and it was a privilege to work with such fantastic players and with Sir Alex. To be part of his family was such a huge feeling, so to make the decision to leave for a second time was really very difficult. But I hope and think that people understand that the challenge of being the coach of your own country is one you cannot ignore.”
Queiroz’s contract with Portugal runs for four years, giving him a shot at the European Championships as well as the World Cup. If Ferguson was to stretch his stay to four years, or if Queiroz was unsuccessful with Portugal, it could mean Queiroz could still be Fergie’s successor. Question is, would we take him back a second time?
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I’d have no problem with Carlos comming back, he’s been a revelation for the team during his tenure. You have to understand that the chance to manage your country doesn’t come around very often, he left the club on good terms and I’m sure if he was to come back he would be welcomed with open arms.
No.I’d rather see Roy Keane in this place.Queiroz is a very good trainer but I doubt his managerial abilities
Nope. I don’t blame him for leaving us either time, but if he wanted to be the next manager, he had to turn Portugal down and stick with us. He’s made his choice as far as i’m concerned, best of luck to him, but there’s no 3rd chance.
I’m thinking that Carlos realized that he might have a long, long wait for SAF to retire – the “two, three years” is purely hypothetical. So, he took advantage of the high profile that he has gained through his association with UTD and gotten himself a great job elsewhere. I am thinking that, having jumped ship twice (admittedly, for great jobs both times) he won’t get a third chance.
I’m also getting a suspicion that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the real dark-horse candidate for the succession. Eric Cantona is a charismatic personality but has no managerial experience whatsoever; Keane-o might have been a great player but he has burned bridges; same with Mark Hughes; Steve Bruce has kept up a “loyal profile” but he hasn’t really achieved much.
OGS is just getting his feet wet at the managerial level but he has been loyal and is a smart guy.
No matter who gets the job, though, it’s one hell of a poisoned chalice to be expected to carry on from the greatest manager in club history and one of the handful of all-time greats in British soccer (along with Jock Stein, Herbert Chapman, and Bill Shankly/Bob Paisley from the scousers’ heyday). SAF is really larger-than-life – i just get tired reading about his activities, let alone showing up for work at 7:00 every morning and flying all over while maintaining constant communications links with a circle of hundreds of colleagues. Truly, a hard act to follow.
I dont blame him for leaving (twice) however we also shouldnt ask him to come (back) a 3rd time.
I am disappointed about MH going to City, as he would have been a great Utd manager in a few years, maybe RK will be that man – I think Cantona would be loved by the fans but end up being far too quirky to be effective
I have no problems with Carlos taking over, I think managing Portugal for a couple of years might actually help him a little, let him make his own decisions, we will quickly see whether he has improved from his previous form under SAF and is now top class.
If not I think a few years RK will have the experience under his belt and he may be a good bet.
I don’t think Solskjaer could really do the job, not unless SAF announces him as the replace for Carlos, because he will definitely need a few years experience, and he hasn’t even got close to that.
Carlos is not just a coach,he is also a scout,how many of you know that he was the one who brought Anderson,Nani and Manucho.He also has links with top scouts all over the world,some of the innnovation and attacking football you see at man U is as a result of him,he his a gerat trainer,I prefer him to roy keane and Mark Hughes.With experince from the national coaching job he has now,he can come back to replace SAF,he was a grater player and he has more hingsight about the present club than RK or MH
I agree that Keane and Hughes have burned their bridges. If SAF can hang in for another half-dozen years, Ole would be my choice.
I personally don’t think Roy Keane has the managerial know how to run a club like United.
Get CQ back if we can, I hold no grudges against him at all. I mean, who else is there?
It’d be nice for somebody like Ole to take the AM job and keep that great balance at the top.