United appoint Queiroz as assistant

Former Portugal and South Africa coach Carlos Queiroz has been appointed assistant manager at Manchester United.

Mozambique-born coach Queiroz, 49, will go to Old Trafford as Alex Ferguson's right-hand man and the club's first foreign coach.

Ferguson, who signed a new contract this year, was delighted with his new deputy's three-year appointment.

"He is someone who will come in and challenge the players," said Ferguson. "I'm really pleased that we have Carlos on board," he told the club's website.

"He is someone I've been looking at for quite a while. I know he has an excellent track record in the past as a manager, particularly with South Africa and Portugal, and he is known as an innovative coach.

"I feel that he is someone who will come in and challenge the players."

Queiroz was the manager of South Africa until March of this year, having been appointed in the summer of 2000.

He succeeded in guiding Bafana Bafana to the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.

"I hope to help the club achieve even more success in the coming years," said Queiroz.

"It is a great privilege to join Manchester United and I am proud and honoured to be given this opportunity," he told Man Utd's website.

"With my full commitment and devotion to the job I hope to help the club achieve even more success in the coming years and meet the high expectations of Manchester United fans."

After an undistinguished playing career he rose through the ranks of management, culminating in guiding Portugal's U-20 teams to the World Youth Cup in 1989 and 1991.

Queiroz then took over the senior team between 1991-1994 before a spell at Portuguese club side Sporting Lisbon.

He also coached club sides New York MetroStars in the USA and Grampus Eight in Japan before arriving in South Africa.

Queiroz follows in the footsteps of Archie Knox, Brian Kidd, Steve McClaren and Jim Ryan as Ferguson's number two at Old Trafford.