Throne ready for King Carlos

23 June 2014 - 02:53 By Sbu Mjikeliso in London
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LOVE LETTERS: Iran coach Carlos Queiroz could be back in the Bafana Bafana coaching hot seat by August
LOVE LETTERS: Iran coach Carlos Queiroz could be back in the Bafana Bafana coaching hot seat by August
Image: EPA

Carlos Queiroz, who confirmed he would quit coaching Iran at the end of the World Cup, has received former Bafana star Quinton Fortune's backing to return to the South African job he quit 12 years ago.

Queiroz said lack of government financial support was the reason he would not return to the Middle East when his contract ends at the end of the tournament.

Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for Brazil 2014 and the last man to send them through to qualification, Queiroz, is said to be interested in the position.

Gordon Igesund, whose contract will not be renewed, will vacate the post in August.

"I hope, if Carlos is interested in taking the job, Safa appoint him because he would be of huge benefit to the team," Fortune said. "He is brilliant tactically and pays attention to detail.

"I was sad when he left because I thought he had done a great job. He was probably the best manager we had during the time I was playing for the team."

Fortune played for Queiroz in the two years he was in charge of South Africa - from 2000 to 2002 .

Queiroz guided Bafana to the Afcon quarterfinals in 2002, as well as to the World Cup in South Korea and Japan, but quit before the tournament began.

Manchester United' s Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Queiroz as the best assistant he had worked with.

"Carlos had most of the qualities to be the next Manchester United manager," Ferguson wrote in his autobiography.

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