Post by Natty on Nov 19, 2008 12:07:57 GMT -1
QPR have named former Portugal midfielder Paulo Sousa as their new first team coach.
Sousa, who was assistant coach of the Portuguese national team, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.
The 38-year-old played 51 times for his country and had spells with Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Inter Milan, Parma and Borussia Dortmund.
Gareth Ainsworth, who had been in caretaker charge at Rangers, will stay on as part of Sousa's backroom team.
Player/coach Ainsworth was placed at the helm by boss Flavio Briatore following the sacking of Iain Dowie in October.
Dowie was dismissed after refusing to select a team suggested to him by Briatore, who owns the west London club along with fellow Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone.
Briatore had a major say in team affairs under Ainsworth, who was initially the frontrunner to land the coach's job on a permanent basis, despite a number of big names being linked with the role.
But the search for an alternative was stepped up following Rangers' home defeat against Burnley on Saturday.
Several British managers are understood to have stayed out of the running for the job because of the R's board's role in team selection and transfers.
Sousa won the Champions League twice as a player, first with Juventus in 1996 and then Dortmund the following year.
He also won the Serie A title with Juventus and represented Portugal at the European Championships in 1996 and 2000.
Sousa, who was assistant coach of the Portuguese national team, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.
The 38-year-old played 51 times for his country and had spells with Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Inter Milan, Parma and Borussia Dortmund.
Gareth Ainsworth, who had been in caretaker charge at Rangers, will stay on as part of Sousa's backroom team.
Player/coach Ainsworth was placed at the helm by boss Flavio Briatore following the sacking of Iain Dowie in October.
Dowie was dismissed after refusing to select a team suggested to him by Briatore, who owns the west London club along with fellow Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone.
Briatore had a major say in team affairs under Ainsworth, who was initially the frontrunner to land the coach's job on a permanent basis, despite a number of big names being linked with the role.
But the search for an alternative was stepped up following Rangers' home defeat against Burnley on Saturday.
Several British managers are understood to have stayed out of the running for the job because of the R's board's role in team selection and transfers.
Sousa won the Champions League twice as a player, first with Juventus in 1996 and then Dortmund the following year.
He also won the Serie A title with Juventus and represented Portugal at the European Championships in 1996 and 2000.
