Former Portugal Boss Santos Named As Poland Coach
Muhammad Rameez Published January 24, 2023 | 10:33 PM
Fernando Santos, who was the Portuguese national team's manager until last month, was on Tuesday named as Poland's new coach
Warsaw, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jan, 2023 ) :Fernando Santos, who was the Portuguese national team's manager until last month, was on Tuesday named as Poland's new coach.
"From today, I am Polish. I am one of you," Santos declared at the official ceremony in Warsaw.
"It is an honour to continue my work as a trainer here," he added.
"I am convinced that we will work hard to give the Poles a lot of joy. I am sure that we will achieve success," Santos told journalists at the press conference called to announce the nomination.
Santos, 68, succeeds Czeslaw Michniewicz, who was sacked last month following a last-16 elimination at the World Cup in Qatar.
Poland finished second in their group, beating Saudi Arabia, drawing with Mexico and losing to eventual champions Argentina.
In the last 16 for the first time in 36 years, they went out after a tame 3-1 defeat at the hands of eventual runners-up France.
Lisbon-born Santos quit as Portugal coach in December, following the team's shock World Cup quarter-final loss to Morocco.
Appointed coach of Portugal in September 2014, Santos won the country's first major title at Euro 2016 and followed it up with the 2019 Nations League.
However, his time in charge also saw last-16 exits at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.
Santos also coached the Greece national team from 2010-2014.
"The choice was difficult but we have chosen the best," said Cezary Kulesza, head of the Polish football federation.
"Our first objective is to qualify for the European Championship" which will take place in Germany in 2024, he added.
When he first revealed the new coach's name, Kulesza misspoke, calling him "Felipe" instead of Fernando, drawing ridicule from local media.
In one of his first interviews to Polish media, Santos told the Interia news site that his Primary focus was on winning.
"Football is not a painting nor... Chopin's music. It is much more simple: if you don't concede goals and you score, then you win. That's all".
Santos said he planned to move to Warsaw and get to know the team.
"I don't want to be the guy that you see only during the matches and on the special occasions," he said.
"I want to get to know the people of Polish football and I want them to get to know me."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Journalists call for global action to end Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
CM for generating opportunities to bring direct int'l investment
Pakistan retains position in FTSE secondary emerging market
High Commissioner of Malaysia hosts Iftar dinner reception
NEPRA announces 2nd quarterly adjustment in power bills with Rs 1.68 cut per uni ..
Hoopo Inc. Collaborates with SAU to Install Solar-Powered RO Plant
04 killed in Spain as Storm Nelson looms
Russian military jet crashes into sea off Crimea: Governor
Rain-windstorm/thunderstorm likely at various parts of country
Implementation of Sindh Agriculture Workers Act-2019 demanded
Pandemic accord talks heading for extra time
Khawaja reiterates PM commitment to judiciary
More Stories From Sports
-
Tennis: ATP-WTA Miami Open results: collated
7 hours ago -
Pak, NZ T20I series online ticket booking from tomorrow
8 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
9 hours ago -
Nottingham Forest's double European Cup winner Lloyd dies
9 hours ago -
Two more matches decided in Inter College Ramadan T-20 Cup
9 hours ago -
PCB dismisses FICA's claims of unpaid dues in PSL
18 hours ago
-
Sinner and Medvedev book Miami Open semi-final clash
19 hours ago -
Collins and Alexandrova fight into Miami semi-finals
21 hours ago -
Van Aert breaks collarbone, ribs in Flanders fall
1 day ago -
Van Aert in high-speed crash in Around Flanders race
1 day ago -
PCB announces inter-club One-Day tournament
1 day ago -
ICC delegation calls on PCB Chairman
1 day ago