Carlos Queiroz has hit the ground running. Less than a week after his official unveiling as head coach of the Black Stars in Accra, the Portuguese manager is already deep into his first major assignment, A broad tour across Europe to connect with players and prepare for a strong World Cup challenge.
The 72-year-old, who was formally introduced to Ghanaians last week, began his tenure by overseeing the Black Galaxies, before boarding a flight to Europe to get closer to the bulk of his squad, the majority of whom play their club football on the continent.
According to the Ghana Football Association, Queiroz has already sat down with skipper Jordan Ayew and talismanic midfielder Thomas Partey, two of the most senior and influential figures in the dressing room. Those conversations are understood to have been the first step in the coach establishing his authority and vision with the team’s core leadership group.
More meetings are planned. The former Real Madrid and Portugal coach will meet other key players in the coming days. His team will also travel across Europe to watch Ghanaian players in action. Both experienced internationals and new, uncapped prospects are reportedly on the scouting list.
Queiroz is keen to communicate his footballing philosophy directly to his players not through intermediaries and to get them understand his tactical blueprint well before the squad assembles for camp. The World Cup, he is said to believe, is won long before a ball is kicked in June.
Ghana will be making their fifth appearance at a FIFA World Cup when the tournament gets underway in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
The Black Stars have been drawn into Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia.
Before the group stage begins, Ghana will sharpen their preparations through a pair of high-profile warm-up fixtures. They face Mexico on the 22nd of May, followed by a clash against Wales on the 2nd of June, two tests designed to give Queiroz a close look at his best to test his squad before the tournament in North America.
Carlos Queiroz: A Legacy of Record-Breaking Leadership
Carlos Queiroz stands among football’s most distinguished coaches, having reached four World Cup qualifications, a feat matched only by England’s Walter Winterbottom and Uruguay’s Oscar Tabárez. Uniquely, Queiroz achieved this with three different national teams. Now, after signing with Ghana, he is on the verge of a fifth consecutive World Cup appearance, spanning the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 tournaments. In 260 matches leading national sides, he has secured 141 victories, setting a record for most wins and ranking third in efficiency among coaches with over 100 international wins.
Twice named World Star FIFA Team Coach (against Bosnia in April 2000 and France in August 2000), Queiroz has also served as a FIFA Instructor and Technical Advisor, as well as Technical Director for the U.S. National Team where he authored the Q-Report, the foundation for Project 2010, a development plan for American football. His philosophy, summed up in the mantra “Team is everything. Never lie to the game. Never lie to football,” continues to guide his work.
Carlos Queiroz reaffirms a career built on integrity, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to the beautiful game.