Real Madrid appointed Carlos Queiroz as the club's new coach on Wednesday.
The Mozambique-born coach signed a two-year contract, replacing Vicente del Bosque, who was fired Monday despite guiding Madrid to a record 29th league title the previous day.
Queiroz, who has spent the last year as Manchester United's assistant coach, will be reunited with David Beckham, whose lion (US$41 million) transfer from the English club to Madrid was announced last week.
He will also team up again with Madrid's Portuguese midfield star Luis Figo, who he is widely credited to have discovered.
Queiroz was unveiled at a news conference at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium three hours after the club's announcement.
Speaking in Spanish, Queiroz said he was delighted to have joined the club.
"Real Madrid is the most successful club in soccer," Queiroz said. "I hope to do justice to Madrid's philosophy and project and make sure Madrid continues to be the best club in the world."
Queiroz was accompanied by club president Florentino Perez and athletic director Jorge Valdano. Valdano said Queiroz had been picked from a large number of candidates.
"Carlos was always first on our list," he said.
Queiroz led Portugal's under-20 team to world championship triumphs in 1989 and 1991 and also coached the Portuguese national team as well as those of South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. He has also been in charge of Sporting Lisbon, the MetroStars in the US and Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan.
Manchester United said on its Web site that it had agreed to release Queiroz from his contract so that he can join Real Madrid.
"We thank Carlos for his contribution to Manchester United's success last season and wish him well in his new job. A replacement for Carlos will be sought in due course," the club said.
Queiroz was under contract until 2005 at United although it has been reported that he had a clause which allowed him to leave if he received an offer to coach a top club.
United coach Alex Ferguson, who initially appeared to be opposed to Queiroz's move, was quoted by Britain's Daily Mail newspaper on Wednesday as saying that Madrid's offer was "a wonderful opportunity for Carlos."
"It's too big a chance to turn down," Ferguson said.
Queiroz thanked Ferguson for letting him go.
"He's a great soccer person. He is soccer himself."
Antic takes it hard
FC Barcelona's outgoing coach Radomir Antic delivered a parting shot at the club by criticizing his replacement Frank Rijkaard for taking a Caribbean trip soon after his appointment, news reports said yesterday.
Antic, whose six-month contract was not renewed last week, took Rijkaard to task for traveling to the Dutch island of Aruba, the week he signed a four-year contract with the Catalan club.
"He signs a contract and then he's off to Aruba. That's all. It speaks for itself how he wants to organize the new Barcelona," Antic told Radio Barcelona on Wednesday.
Antic revived Barcelona's fortunes after replacing Louis van Gaal in February, when the team languished in 12th place in the league, just three points above the relegation zone. The Catalan club managed a sixth-place finish and clinched a place in next season's UEFA Cup. The Serbian coach was reportedly upset when all the club's six presidential candidates ignored him as a possibility for next season.
Rijkaard, a former AC Milan star, led the Netherlands to the semifinals of Euro 2000. His most recently coached at Sparta Rotterdam, but resigned last year.
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