Benfica keen on Queiroz

Portuguese giants eye United assistant manager

By Francisco Acedo   Last updated: 21st March 2008

Manchester United Carlos Queiroz

Queiroz: In demand

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Benfica want Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz as their next boss, according to reports.

It is reported by Portuguese newspaper A Bola that a meeting between Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira and former player Rui Costa is due to take place this week.

The objective of this meeting would be to devise a strategy by which Queiroz could be lured away from Old Trafford to take over at Benfica next season - with Rui Costa in a sporting director role.

Benfica are understood to want to adopt an English style of management with a boss who is responsible for all aspects of the team after sacking Jose Antonio Camacho.

Reports say that Benfica have already decided to contact United to discuss the possibility of Queiroz - Sir Alex Ferguson's right hand man - leaving England.

Queiroz - who had a brief spell in charge of Real Madrid - admits he has been interested by Benfica in the past, but insists there has been no contact with the Portuguese giants.

"I won't ever say never, but there have been no discussions or talks," Queiroz is quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph.

"Benfica was of interest to me in the past but I am at Manchester United and there are many more challenges in front of me."