Sir Alex Ferguson has launched an 11th-hour attempt to persuade Carlos Queiroz to reject the chance to manage Portugal.
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Queiroz, Ferguson's assistant manager, appeared to have ended his four-year stint at Manchester United by agreeing to succeed Luiz Felipe Scolari as Portugal coach last weekend. But the 55-year-old former Real Madrid manager has admitted that Ferguson is now pulling out all the stops in a last-ditch effort to keep him at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese Football Federation have offered Queiroz a four-year deal worth £1.5 million a year to return to the post he held for three years during the early Nineties. Queiroz has admitted to being "thrilled" by the prospect of leading the team through the next World Cup and on to Euro 2012 but Ferguson is now attempting to talk him out of the move.
Although unable to offer Queiroz assurances that he will take the reins at United when Ferguson finally opts to retire, the Scot has made it clear he regards his assistant as a crucial asset and a huge influence behind last term's Premier League and Champions League double.
United chief executive David Gill has been charged with doing all he can to retain Queiroz, who had been expected to be unveiled by Portugal earlier this week. The Portuguese remain confident they will get their man, though, with PFF president Gilberto Madail in negotiations with Gill over a compensation package.
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What on earth is RTD talking about? Queiroz and Ferguson are at Manchester United, not Real Madrid. Queiroz is very good and all nationals should jump at managing their national side. Now if Queiroz was told he would definitely take over at MUFC next year or the year after then........
RE: RTD You have a nerve mate. We are not R.M.'s feeder club and never will be. To the point Sir Alex wanted rid of Beckham and so gave him to Laporta when he was running for the Barcelona presidential elections in 2003. It's obvious DB was never going to Barcelona because Madrid were already making noises for 6 months that they were after him. The fact is MUFC were finished with Beckham because he thought he was bigger than the club, something by the way the player has admitted as a mistake earlier on this year. As for RVN, Fergie wanted him gone because of his attitude towards the manager and the team after being dropped for the carling cup final. As for Heinze, he was off the moment he declared he wanted to go to Liverpool, but deep down every Utd fan knew he was finished after his disastrous performances against AC in the champions league. So no, we gave Madrid players we did not need. Players that had served their purpose for the club and players who the manager knew were finished at OT. The difference here is we are not going to give away a player we need and want. The day we don't need Ronaldo will be the day he'll go when he's surplus to requirements like every one else.
Fergie managed Scotland as a response to a crisis situation, it was not a permanent role. As to the RMFC gag, you're right we are doing good business with them; doesn't seem to have harmed us though, unlike your team, which has not won the premier league and champions league last season. As for little ronnie i don't think most MUFC fans would shed a tear: he's a great player but if he doesn't want to stay he should go, we'll live.
Real Madrids Feeder Club obviously can't guarentee the managers job to Queiroz once Fergie retires as you never know what managers will be available in a couple of years time. However it is obvious that Queiroz wants to manage his national side and as a result R.M.F.C. should let him go and wish him success. After all didn't fergie manage Scotland in Mexico, so he should know the pull of your national side. PS has little ronnie gone yet?