Ghana have appointed Carlos Queiroz as the head coach of the Black Stars, their senior national team. The former Real Madrid, Manchester United, Portugal and Iran coach will lead Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Queiroz’s Immediate Task: World Cup Preparation
Queiroz, 73, starts immediately. Ghana play their first Group L match against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field in Toronto, before facing England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Croatia on June 27 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Sources close to the GFA have said the appointment is a short-term arrangement through the World Cup. It will be re-evaluated after the tournament.
“This is not just another job — it is a mission,” Queiroz said in a statement on the GFA website. “And I am ready to give everything of my experience and knowledge once again, in service of the game and the happiness of People.”
Addo’s Dismissal and the Search for a Replacement
The appointment ends a two-week search that began when the GFA dismissed Otto Addo on March 30. Addo’s dismissal came hours after a 2-1 friendly loss to Germany in Stuttgart.
That result was the Black Stars’ fourth consecutive-defeat in pre-tournament preparation, following losses to Japan, South Korea and Austria. The last of those was a 5-1 defeat in Vienna.
Addo, who had qualified Ghana for the tournament by winning eight and drawing one of ten qualifying matches, was fired 72 days before the World Cup’s opening ceremony.
GFA president Kurt Okraku disclosed that the association received over 600 applications in the first 24 hours after Addo’s departure. This was despite never issuing a public call for candidates.
Other Candidates Considered
Queiroz beat several prominent candidates to the job.
Slaven Bilic, the 57-year-old Croatian and former West Ham United manager, had emerged as a frontrunner after holding direct discussions with the GFA. Bilic managed Croatia at Euro 2008, reaching the quarterfinals, and spent two seasons in the Premier League with West Ham.
Herve Renard, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, was widely regarded as a leading contender. Reports indicate the GFA may be eyeing Renard for a longer-term role after the tournament, a factor that possibly influenced the decision to structure the initial appointment as a short-term contract.
- Kwesi Appiah, currently managing Sudan and a former Black Stars head coach, was frequently mentioned.
- Sources indicate his relationship with Okraku posed a significant obstacle.
- Tom Saintfiet, the Belgian coach who led Gambia to a historic AFCON quarterfinal in 2021, and Kim Lars Bjorkgren, a Swedish coach working within Ghana’s domestic setup, were also on the shortlist.
Queiroz’s World Cup Pedigree
Queiroz brings extensive World Cup experience to the role, having taken charge of national teams at five FIFA World Cups.
Born in Mozambique in 1953, he first rose to prominence by coaching Portugal’s youth teams to consecutive FIFA U20 World Cup titles in 1989 and 1991. He developed a generation that included Luis Figo and Rui.