Portugal confirm departure of coach Carlos Queiroz
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EURO 2012 QUALIFYING
Portugal confirm departure of coach Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Queiroz was unhappy with his six-month ban
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has been dismissed following the country's poor start to Euro 2012 qualifying and the coach's own lengthy suspension for disciplinary reaons.
Queiroz, who had two years remaining on his contract, was banned from coaching the national side for six months by Portugal's Sport Institute after he was adjudged to have disrupted a drugs test prior to the World Cup finals.
The Portuguese Football Federation had already suspended the former Manchester United assistant manager for a month due to his use of foul language towards testers in the same incident.
Queiroz said he would appeal the six-month sanction but in his absence, Portugal could only draw 4-4 at home to Cyprus and lose 1-0 to Norway on Tuesday to start their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign in unimpressive fashion.
Portugal were also eliminated in the second round of the World Cup when losing 1-0 to Spain and failed to score in three of their four games in South Africa.
A federation statement read: "Given the recent events, and after reviewing the current situation concerning the national coach, the directorate of the FPF decided unanimously [to end] the contract with the national coach, Carlos Queiroz, with immediate effect. This decision was communicated to Carlos Queiroz.
"[The FPF will] start immediately contacts and talks with a view to hiring a technician who performs the functions of national coach in time to prepare and lead the team in the forthcoming qualifying matches for Euro 2012."
Queiroz was appointed as Luiz Felipe Scolari's replacement in July 2008, taking charge for the World Cup qualifying campaign. After struggling in the early stages the country beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in a play-off.
Queiroz, who has a spell as Real Madrid coach on his CV, was previously Portugal boss between the years of 1991 and 1994.
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So fast... lols