Now leading Ghana into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the veteran Portuguese manager adds another chapter to a career that has already included five World Cup cycles and stops at powerhouse programs around the globe.

While many fans remember him for his time as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, his coaching journey stretches far beyond Old Trafford. He has managed Portugal, Iran, Colombia, Egypt and Real Madrid.

How old is Carlos Queiroz?

Carlos Queiroz is 73 years old. He was born on March 1, 1953, in Nampula, Mozambique, which was then part of Portuguese Overseas Africa. Although he was born in Africa, he moved to Portugal and built his soccer career there.

His longevity in the game has made him one of the most experienced managers in international soccer. After decades on the sidelines, he remains active at the highest level, taking over Ghana just weeks before the start of the World Cup.

How tall is Carlos Queiroz?

Carlos Queiroz is 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters) tall. His composed demeanor has been a trademark during stints with club and national teams, particularly in high-pressure international tournaments where experience often proves invaluable.

What is Carlos Queiroz’s nationality?

Carlos Queiroz is Portuguese. Although he was born in Mozambique in 1953, the country was a Portuguese territory at the time, and he has represented Portugal throughout his coaching career.

He first rose to prominence by leading Portugal’s youth national teams, helping develop what became known as the country’s “Golden Generation”. Since then, he has coached around the world, but his nationality has remained Portuguese.

Did Carlos Queiroz play soccer professionally?

No, Carlos Queiroz did not have a notable professional playing career.

Unlike many elite coaches, he made his name almost exclusively from the dugout rather than on the field. He began coaching at a young age and quickly demonstrated an exceptional ability to develop players and organize teams.

His breakthrough came in the late 1980s when he guided Portugal to back-to-back FIFA World Youth Championship titles in 1989 and 1991. Those triumphs launched his reputation and opened the door to coaching opportunities.

Which teams has Carlos Queiroz coached?

Carlos Queiroz has coached numerous national teams and clubs across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. His résumé includes some of the biggest jobs in international soccer. Among the teams he has managed are:

• Portugal (youth and senior national team)
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates
• Real Madrid
• Iran
• Colombia
• Egypt
• Qatar
• Oman
• Ghana

In club soccer, his most famous role came at Manchester United, where he served twice as Sir Alex Ferguson‘s assistant manager. During those spells, he helped the club win multiple Premier League titles and played a key role.

How many World Cups has Carlos Queiroz coached in?

Carlos Queiroz has coached at five FIFA World Cups. The 2026 tournament with Ghana marks his fifth appearance as a head coach at soccer’s biggest event. His World Cup appearances include:

• 2010 – Portugal
• 2014 – Iran
• 2018 – Iran
• 2022 – Iran
• 2026 – Ghana

He also guided South Africa to qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup but resigned before the tournament began. His five consecutive World Cups place him among the most experienced international coaches.

What trophies has Carlos Queiroz won?

Carlos Queiroz has won several major titles, most notably at youth international level. His most significant achievements include: the FIFA World Youth Championship with Portugal in 1989 and 1991.

Those two triumphs helped launch the careers of several future stars, including Luis Figo, Rui Costa and Joao Pinto. Although he has not won a senior World Cup or continental championship, he has collected domestic league and cup medals.

When did Carlos Queiroz become Ghana’s head coach?

Carlos Queiroz became Ghana’s head coach on April 13, 2026. He was appointed by the Ghana Football Association after Otto Addo was dismissed, with the mission of preparing the Black Stars for the FIFA World Cup.

He immediately took charge of preparations and brought decades of experience to a squad looking to make a deep run. His appointment also made him only the second coach ever to manage five consecutive FIFA World Cups as a head coach.

What is Carlos Queiroz’s coaching style?

Carlos Queiroz is known for building disciplined, defense-first teams that are difficult to break down. His tactical discipline and tournament experience were major reasons Ghana turned to him ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He has favored a pragmatic tactical approach centered on defensive organization, compact positioning and quick counterattacks. His teams often concede possession to stronger opponents before looking to exploit space in transition.

That philosophy was particularly evident during his time with Iran, where he consistently produced competitive performances against higher-ranked nations despite having fewer resources and less individual talent.

Iran got their ticket to a third consecutive World Cupafter amazing performances in the Asian Qualifiers. Carlos Queiroz’s team dominated their group with 8 wins, 1 draw and only 1 loss against rivals such asSouth Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

Carlos Queiroz was supposed to lead Colombia to Qatar 2022, butthe lack of results in the CONMEBOL qualifiers got him fired. Then, Iran called again and he decided to take charge of the team for a third consecutive World Cup (2014, 2018 and 2022). Iran surprised everyone by beating Wales on Matchday 2 and that’s when Jurgen Klinsmann unleashed chaos with his remarks.

What happened between Carlos Queiroz and Jurgen Klinsmann?

After their victory over Wales, Jurgen Klinsmann claimed “gamesmanship” was part of Iran’s culture. That really hard take came in an interview with the BBC. “Yes, that’s their culture and their way of doing it. That’s why Queiroz fits really well the Iranian national team.This is just part of their culture and how they play, then they work the referee.You saw the bench always jumping up, working the fourth official and the linesman, constantly in their ears, constantly in your face”.

Klinsmann went further and strongly crticized Carlos Queiroz’s accolades. “Struggled in South America. He failed to qualify with Colombia and then he failed with Egypt to qualify and then he went back and guided Iran, who he worked already with for a long, long time. So this is not by coincidence. This is done on purpose”, said the former manager of Germany and the United States.

Carlos Queiroz answered to the claims via Twitter. “Dear Jurgen; You took the initiative to call me Carlos, so I believe it is proper to call you Jurgen. Right? Even not knowing me personally, you question my character with a typical prejudiced judgment of superiority. We promise you that we will not produce any judgments regarding your culture, roots and background and that you will always be welcome to our Family”.

Queiroz also asked Jurgen Klinsmann to resign from his role within FIFA’s technical study group. “At the same time, we just want to follow with full attention what will be the decision of FIFA regarding your position as a member of Qatar 2022 Technical Study Group. Because, obviously, we expect you to resign before you visit our camp”.

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Other nations are also being questioned by some of the media for things that happen outside the pitch. In this case Iran, who is preparing to play England in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup.

Former MetroStars, Portugal, and Colombia national team manager Carlos Queiroz fielded an uncomfortable question by a Sky Sports reporter.

Carlos Queiroz asked about being comfortable working for Iran

The Sky Sports Journalist asked the Portuguese coach if he was comfortable working for a country that “represses the rights of women”. Queiroz taken back by the question answered ironically.

“What channel do you work for?” When the reporter answered Sky, Queiroz continued “How much you pay me to answer that question?” The former Manchester United assistant continued, “You are a private company how much you pay me… I can answer that question if you make me a good offer. Thank you.”

Queiroz tried to brush the question aside trying to make a point that he is doing a “job”, but he was quick to strike back after leaving the press conference stating, “I think you should start to think about what happened with the immigrants in England also.”

Iran will play in Group B with England, United States, and Wales.