Iran has named former Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz as its new national coach.
Official IRNA news agency said Monday that Queiroz has a three-year contract that will take him through to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The deal, details of which were not given, also involves him supervising Iran's under-23 and youth sides.
Queiroz is a former coach of Real Madrid and also had two stints as Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United.
Iran has been without a head coach since January, when Afshin Qotbi's contract expired after Iran's dismal performance in the Asian Cup.
Queiroz told Portugal's national news agency Lusa he expected to iron out a few remaining details with Iranian authorities by the end of today.
''Almost all the outstanding formalities for me to take charge for the next three and a half years have been overcome,'' he was quoted as saying.
He said Iran ''has good players, resources, passion and a desire to be at the World Cup in Brazil, and that coincides with my goals.''
Iran has qualified for World Cup three times: in 1978 in Argentina, in 1998 in France and in 2006 in Germany.
