Less than two months after resigning following the Black Stars’ campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the experienced Portuguese coach is back and will once again take charge of a national team looking to begin a new era.
Carlos Queiroz Returns to Ghana
The story between Carlos Queiroz and the Ghana national team still had another chapter to be written.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed Queiroz’s return on Thursday, an unexpected decision after the 73-year-old appeared to have definitively closed the door on his brief spell with the African side.
Now, both sides are coming together again.
Queiroz Changes His Mind After the World Cup
Queiroz’s first spell in charge of Ghana lasted only a few months.
The Portuguese coach had taken over in April as the replacement for Otto Addo, with the immediate responsibility of preparing the team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
At the tournament, the Black Stars began with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama, thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Caleb Yirenkyi. They then earned a scoreless draw against England before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Croatia.
The elimination eventually led to the coach’s departure in July.
It appeared to be an unusually short spell for a manager accustomed to much longer international projects, but the separation did not prove permanent either.
Just a few weeks later, Queiroz agreed to return.
Ghana Once Again Turn to His Experience
The Ghana Football Association explained that Queiroz’s existing knowledge of the team was one of the factors behind the decision to place their trust in him again.
“The GFA believes Queiroz’s extensive international experience, technical expertise and knowledge of the Black Stars position him strongly to lead the team into this next chapter,” the organization said.
The move allows Ghana to avoid starting completely from scratch.
Queiroz already knows the squad, worked with the players during their World Cup preparations and will now have an opportunity to build a project with more time, away from the urgency that surrounded his first few months in charge.
Details of his new agreement and the national team’s upcoming schedule will be announced at a later date.
A Career Defined by International Management
Few coaches have the international experience of Carlos Queiroz.
Ghana are the ninth national team he has managed during his career after working with Portugal, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Colombia, Egypt, Qatar and Oman.
His spell with Iran was particularly lengthy and saw him lead the country at three consecutive editions of the FIFA World Cup, while he guided Portugal to the Round of 16 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
His career has also included some of the biggest clubs in European soccer.
He served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, forming part of a coaching staff that won three Premier League titles and the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League. He also managed Real Madrid during the 2003-04 season.
Now, at 73, Queiroz is returning to a national team he appeared to have left behind for good.
Two months later, Ghana and the Portuguese coach have decided to give it another try.
